BOSTON — Larry Summers, the former president of Harvard University and U.S. treasury secretary, announced that he would step back from public engagements following the release of emails that showed he had maintained a friendly relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, even after Epstein's 2008 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl.
Summers stated that he would be devoting time to 'rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me,' expressing his deep shame for his actions and taking full responsibility for his 'misguided decision' to continue communications with Epstein.
While Summers did not specify the exact nature of his retreat from public life, he confirmed that he will continue his teaching responsibilities and focus on rebuilding trust. However, the Center for American Progress has confirmed that Summers is 'ending his fellowship at CAP,' and he is no longer a member of the Yale Budget Lab’s advisory group.
Moreover, the announcement comes shortly after former President Donald Trump expressed on his Truth Social platform that he would request the Justice Department and the FBI to investigate Summers’ association with Epstein, prompting a response from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has ordered a federal prosecutor to lead the investigation.
Summers’ recent comments follow the release of many emails showing Epstein's expansive network of powerful and wealthy associates who remained in contact long after his previous legal troubles. One email revealed Summers discussing personal interactions, with statements reflecting casual language that now faces scrutiny given Epstein's past.
As the fallout continues, Senator Elizabeth Warren has voiced her belief that Harvard should sever ties with Summers, highlighting concerns over his judgment related to his associations with influential figures involved in serious criminal allegations.
While Epstein died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial for sexual abuse and trafficking claims, the implications of his associations persist in ongoing discussions about ethical leadership and accountability.
