Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers has gone on leave from his teaching role at Harvard University, following the release of emails that reveal he maintained a close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, even after Epstein's conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Initially, Summers had planned to continue his teaching commitments despite growing criticism regarding his past connections with Epstein. However, as reports surfaced and scrutiny increased, he elected to step back from his duties.
According to a statement released by Summers’ spokesperson, Steven Goldberg, the decision was made to benefit the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at Harvard as the university conducts a review. His courses will be completed by co-professors for the remainder of the semester, and Summers will not teach next semester.
Harvard has initiated a review of incidents linked to Summers, but did not specifically mention him in their announcement. This follows revelations of his ties to Epstein, who visited Harvard’s campus over 40 times post-conviction and had been involved with university projects.
On Tuesday, just before announcing his leave, Summers had appeared to fulfill his teaching duties, addressing undergraduates in his economics class where he expressed regret regarding his communications with Epstein.
In the emails, one exchange even showcased Summer seeking Epstein’s advice on personal relationships, highlighting the casual nature of their interaction, with Epstein referring to himself playfully as a “wingman.”
Summers has since distanced himself from multiple other affiliations relating to the scandal, complying with the growing impact of the email revelations on his professional life.
