Larry Summers, the former president of Harvard University, has resigned from his teaching position and the directorship of the university’s center after facing significant backlash over his communications with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The decision comes as Harvard University begins an investigation into his ties with Epstein, who was convicted of sex crimes and died in custody in 2019.
The move follows a video released by Harvard students showing Summers admitting to feeling shame over his connections with Epstein. This video, which surfaced during his economics class, has intensified public scrutiny of his past interactions. New evidence has come to light through the release of emails by a House committee, which revealed that Summers exchanged personal and romantic messages with Epstein.
President Donald Trump’s recent decision to sign legislation allowing the Justice Department to release records related to Epstein’s case has added another layer of scrutiny. This has led to further revelations, including new documents that show an ex-Clinton cabinet secretary had regular communications with Epstein after his conviction.
Summers, who previously served as Treasury secretary under President Bill Clinton and directed the National Economic Council from 2009 to 2, has also resigned from the board of OpenAI. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Summers said that in line with his announcement to step away from public commitments, he has decided to resign from the board of OpenAI.
Summers’ spokesperson confirmed that he is taking a leave of absence from his role as director of the center, as Harvard undertakes its review. The spokesperson noted that his co-teachers will complete the remaining three class sessions of the courses he has been teaching and that he is not scheduled to teach next semester.
Despite the controversies, Summers has been a prominent figure in academia and public policy for decades. His resignation from Harvard marks a significant shift in his career and highlights the ongoing scrutiny of his past associations with Epstein.