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Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, who also served as Harvard University president, announced he is stepping back from public engagements after the House Oversight Committee released emails revealing his continued communication with Jeffrey Epstein.
In a Monday statement, Summers said he is “deeply ashamed” of his actions and accepts full responsibility for maintaining contact with Epstein despite his criminal past.
Larry Summers, who remains a Harvard faculty member, emphasized that while he will continue teaching, he is reducing his public presence in an attempt to rebuild trust and repair personal relationships.
Long-Standing Ties With Epstein
Reports have long indicated that Summers had an ongoing relationship with Epstein, particularly during his tenure as Harvard president from 2001 to 2006.
Records show he flew on Epstein’s aircraft at least four times, and Harvard received millions in donations from Epstein before the financier pleaded guilty in 2008 to charges involving a minor.
A university review previously confirmed that all such contributions occurred before Epstein’s 2008 conviction.
Criticism From Lawmakers
Senator Elizabeth Warren condemned Summers’ past association with Epstein, calling it an example of “monumentally bad judgment.”
Warren urged Harvard to cut ties with Larry Summers, arguing that someone unable to distance himself from Epstein cannot be trusted to influence national policy or educate future leaders.
Despite the controversial emails, no survivors of Epstein’s abuse have accused Summers of wrongdoing, and no public evidence links him to Epstein’s criminal activity.
New Emails Reveal Closer Relationship
The newly released documents suggest a more intimate level of communication between Summers and Epstein, including exchanges about dating advice, personal conversations, and discussions about political figures.
Their correspondence continued well after Epstein’s 2008 conviction and appears to have lasted until months before Epstein’s death in 2019.
Notable Email Exchanges
- A March 2019 thread shows Epstein advising Summers regarding an unnamed woman, hinting at a personal familiarity.
- Other emails include conversations about Donald Trump, with Summers calling Trump “a clown” and “dangerous on foreign policy” in a 2017 message.
- In 2018, Epstein claimed involvement with someone inside the Trump administration, referencing possible replacements for then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
- An October 2016 email under the initials LHS (Larry H. Summers) asks whether the idea of Trump being a cocaine user was plausible.
Communications Involving Summers’ Wife
The documents also show correspondence between Epstein and Elisa New, Summers’ wife and a professor of American literature. In 2014, New sought $500,000 in funding for a poetry project. Epstein later contributed $110,000 through a non-Harvard entity.
A spokesperson later said New regretted accepting Epstein’s funding, noting that her nonprofit donated a larger amount to an anti–sex trafficking organization.
Harvard’s internal 2020 report found Epstein had donated over $9 million to the university over several years.
Conclusion
The release of the Epstein emails has pushed Larry Summers to pull back from his long-standing public role.
While no evidence ties him directly to Epstein’s crimes, the nature of their communications and financial interactions has intensified scrutiny.
Summers’ decision to retreat from public life highlights the growing pressure on institutions and individuals connected to Epstein as new details continue to surface.
FAQs
1. Has Larry Summers been accused of any criminal activity related to Epstein?
No. There is no evidence or allegations that Summers was involved in any of Epstein’s criminal conduct.
2. Will Summers continue teaching at Harvard?
Yes. Summers said he will maintain his teaching responsibilities but reduce other public commitments.
3. What did the newly released emails show?
The emails revealed personal conversations, political commentary, and a closer relationship with Epstein than previously known.