Larry Summers Resigns from Public Roles Over Epstein Ties/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Larry Summers, former U.S. Treasury Secretary and Harvard president, is stepping back from public roles following revelations of his continued contact with Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein’s 2008 conviction. Summers expressed deep regret and shame in a statement. Prominent institutions, including Yale and the Center for American Progress, confirmed his removal from advisory roles.
Epstein Fallout Quick Looks
- Larry Summers stepping down after emails reveal Epstein ties
- Emails show friendly correspondence long after Epstein’s 2008 conviction
- Summers expresses “deep shame” and vows to rebuild trust
- Will continue teaching, but exits several public commitments
- Center for American Progress and Yale Budget Lab cut ties
- Trump called for DOJ and FBI to investigate Summers
- AG Pam Bondi appoints special prosecutor to probe connections
- Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial
- Summers previously described ties as a “major error in judgment”
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren says Harvard should sever all ties
Deep Look
Larry Summers Steps Back from Public Commitments After Epstein Connection Resurfaces
BOSTON — Former Treasury Secretary and Harvard University President Larry Summers has announced he will step back from his public engagements and advisory roles after the release of emails showing ongoing communication with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — even after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea involving an underage girl.
In a public statement released Monday, Summers expressed regret over maintaining contact with Epstein and acknowledged the damage caused by his actions. “I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused. I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein,” he said.
Summers, who currently teaches at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, said he will continue to teach but did not specify which other responsibilities he will relinquish. His announcement follows mounting scrutiny after the release of documents and emails showing a sustained personal rapport with Epstein years after the financier’s conviction.
The fallout has already affected Summers’ affiliations. The Center for American Progress, a leading liberal think tank based in Washington, D.C., confirmed that Summers has ended his fellowship with the organization. Similarly, the Budget Lab at Yale stated that he is no longer serving on its advisory board.
The decision to withdraw came just days after President Donald Trump publicly called for a federal investigation into Summers’ relationship with Epstein. Trump also named former President Bill Clinton and Democratic donor Reid Hoffman in the same post on his Truth Social platform. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that she has assigned a senior federal prosecutor to lead the probe into the allegations and Epstein’s broader network.
Jeffrey Epstein, a financier with ties to numerous global elites, died in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges related to the trafficking and abuse of underage girls. His death was ruled a suicide, but speculation and conspiracy theories have persisted due to the high-profile names in his orbit.
Emails released last week as part of a congressional investigation reveal that many public figures, including Summers, continued interacting with Epstein after 2008. In one notable exchange from 2019, Summers described a conversation with a woman in vague, flirtatious language. Epstein responded with encouragement, writing in his characteristically error-ridden style, “you reacted well.. annoyed shows caring. , no whining showed strentgh.”
These revelations reignited questions about the ethical judgment of those who maintained relationships with Epstein after his conviction. In a previous statement last week, Summers admitted his connection with Epstein was a “major error in judgment” and stated he had “great regrets” about it.
Summers, who served as Treasury Secretary under President Bill Clinton from 1999 to 2001 and as Harvard’s president from 2001 to 2006, remains a prominent voice in economic and policy circles. However, the renewed scrutiny is raising fresh questions about his legacy and ongoing influence.
Political fallout followed quickly. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat and former Harvard Law professor, said Harvard University should sever ties with Summers altogether. “For decades, Larry Summers has demonstrated his attraction to serving the wealthy and well-connected, but his willingness to cozy up to a convicted sex offender demonstrates monumentally bad judgment,” she told CNN.
Though Harvard has not yet issued an official statement regarding Summers’ current academic position, pressure is likely to build, especially as investigations progress and more documents become public.
Summers’ announcement appears aimed at damage control, as major institutions move to distance themselves from any perceived connection to Epstein or his legacy. The controversy highlights the enduring influence Epstein maintained through high-powered relationships, despite his criminal record.
As scrutiny deepens and new revelations continue to surface, the broader implications extend beyond Summers’ personal decisions. With political leaders demanding full transparency, including the release of all Epstein-related government files, the accountability effort may only be beginning.
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