Economics professor and former Harvard University President Larry Summers has resigned from the OpenAI board and stepped back from public duties after the House of Representatives released emails revealing years of correspondence with the disgraced late financier Jeffrey Epstein. In a TikTok video recorded during a Harvard lecture, Summers expressed regret and shame over his past communications with Epstein, acknowledging the gravity of his actions. The videos have sparked significant public reaction, with many calling for accountability and condemnation over his past associations.
The emails, released by the House committee, show exchanges between Summers and Epstein over several years, including references to Epstein as his ‘wingman.’ Summers, who served as Harvard’s president from 2001 to 2006 and later held senior positions in the Obama administration, also resigned from the OpenAI board amid the fallout. The documents, which span from 2013 to 2019, reveal Epstein’s continued support for Summers even after his conviction, including during a period when Summers was still married.
Harvard University has launched an internal review into faculty members’ connections to Epstein, according to reports from The Harvard Crimson. The university has not yet responded to media inquiries, but the review is expected to evaluate any actions that may be warranted based on the information from the newly released Epstein documents. Additional staff members, including notable figures such as Alan M. Dershowitz and English professor emerita Elisa F. New, who is married to Summers, also appear in the documents.
Online reactions to the revelations have been largely negative, with many commentators calling for accountability and expressing outrage over the situation. Some have questioned how Summers remains in academic and public life, while others have described the actions as ‘diabolical.’ These comments reflect the growing public concern and scrutiny over the connections between prominent figures and Epstein, highlighting the broader implications of the revelations for academic and political integrity.