Harvard University has reopened its investigation into connections between former president Larry Summers and Jeffrey Epstein, after newly released emails showed that Summers maintained a friendly relationship with Epstein long after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl according to AP News. A university spokesperson confirmed the review and said it would examine all individuals named in the documents.
Spokesperson Jason Newton said Harvard is “conducting a review of information concerning individuals at Harvard included in the newly released Jeffrey Epstein documents to evaluate what actions may be warranted.” The statement was first reported by The Boston Globe and The Harvard Crimson. Though Harvard did not name Summers, the review announcement followed the publication of emails involving him.
A previous Harvard review completed in 2020 found that Epstein visited campus more than 40 times after 2008. He was also given office space and unrestricted access to a research center he funded. The professor who provided the office later faced restrictions that barred him from advising students or starting new research for at least two years.
Summers said on Tuesday that he would step back from public activities. His office confirmed on Wednesday that he will resign from the OpenAI board of directors. Summers said, “I am grateful for the opportunity to have served, excited about the potential of the company, and look forward to following their progress.” The board expressed appreciation for his contributions.
Summers joined OpenAI’s board in November 2023, during an effort to stabilize the organization and reinstate CEO Sam Altman following his temporary removal days earlier.
Summers also addressed the issue directly before his economics class. In remarks recorded by Harvard student Rosie Couture, he told students, “Some of you will have seen my statement of regret expressing my shame with respect to what I did in communication with Mr. Epstein and that I’ve said that I’m going to step back from public activities for a while. But I think it’s very important to fulfill my teaching obligations.”
Epstein died in 2019, in what authorities ruled a suicide. He was a convicted sex offender whose ties to powerful and wealthy individuals made him a source of widespread outrage and conspiracy theories involving American elites.
Summers served as treasury secretary from 1999 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton and led Harvard University from 2001 to 2006. When asked last week about the newly surfaced emails, he said he has “great regrets in my life” and that the association with Epstein was a “major error in judgement.”
