Harvard University has reopened an investigation into former President Larry Summers following the release of emails that reveal his ongoing relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. This decision, confirmed by a university spokesperson on Wednesday, comes after it was disclosed that Summers maintained friendly ties with Epstein long after the financier’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl.
The university did not specifically name Summers in their statement. However, spokesperson Jason Newton outlined the review process, stating, “The University is conducting a review of information concerning individuals at Harvard included in the newly released Jeffrey Epstein documents to evaluate what actions may be warranted.” This renewed probe follows a previous investigation that concluded in 2020, which found that Epstein visited the Harvard campus over 40 times after his conviction and was granted access to a research center he helped establish.
In light of the new revelations, Summers announced on Tuesday that he would step back from public commitments, which includes resigning from the board of OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT. In a statement, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and noted, “I am excited about the potential of the company and look forward to following their progress.”
The OpenAI board acknowledged Summers’ contributions during his tenure, which began in November 2023, as part of a strategy to stabilize the organization following the controversial firing of CEO Sam Altman.
Amidst these developments, Summers addressed his economics class, where he acknowledged his involvement with Epstein. He stated, “Some of you will have seen my statement of regret expressing my shame with respect to what I did in communication with Mr. Epstein and that I’ve said that I’m going to step back from public activities for a while. But I think it’s very important to fulfill my teaching obligations.” These remarks were captured on video by Harvard student Rosie Couture and shared online.
Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019, was a convicted sex offender notorious for his connections to influential figures, which fueled widespread outrage and conspiracy theories surrounding elite American society. Summers served as treasury secretary from 1999 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton and presided over Harvard from 2001 to 2006. When questioned about the recent emails, he expressed his “great regrets” and characterized his association with Epstein as a “major error in judgment.”
As Harvard moves forward with this investigation, it underscores the ongoing scrutiny regarding the relationships and decisions of prominent individuals connected to Epstein, highlighting broader implications for institutions like Harvard in managing their reputations and ethical responsibilities.
