Larry Summers Steps Back After Epstein Emails Surface

Wed Nov 19 2025 01:20:33 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Former Harvard president Larry Summers announces he will reduce his public engagements following the release of emails detailing his communications with Jeffrey Epstein.

Larry Summers, the former president of Harvard University, has stated that he will withdraw from public commitments after emails revealing his correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein became public. In his statement, Summers expressed shame over his actions and emphasized his intent to rebuild trust with those close to him. The released emails show that Summers had contact with Epstein until just before the financier's 2019 arrest. Moreover, there's anticipation for a congressional vote regarding the release of all Epstein-related documents.

Former Harvard University president Larry Summers has said he will step back from public commitments after his emails with disgraced late financier Jeffrey Epstein were made public.

I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognise the pain they have caused, he said in a statement to CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

Emails released by a House committee last week show Summers, a former US treasury secretary, communicated with Epstein until the day before Epstein's 2019 arrest for the alleged sex trafficking of minors.

On Tuesday, House members are expected to vote on a measure calling for the release of all Epstein-related files that have yet to be made public.

The measure would head to the Senate and require the approval of US President Donald Trump.

Summers served as treasury secretary under former President Bill Clinton and director of the National Economic Council under former President Barack Obama. He was president of Harvard from 2001 to 2006 and is currently a professor there.

He wrote in his statement on Monday: I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr Epstein. He added that he wanted to rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me.

While continuing to fulfil my teaching obligations, I will be stepping back from public commitments as one part of my broader effort, Summers wrote.

The Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank in Washington where Summers was a senior fellow, also announced on Monday that he was no longer affiliated with the organisation.

Summers is still listed as a member of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI's board, which he joined in 2023 following a failed attempt to oust its chief executive Sam Altman. The BBC has contacted OpenAI and a representative for Summers about whether he will remain a director at the company.

Summers' move comes after the US Department of Justice announced it would investigate Epstein's involvement and relationship with former President Bill Clinton, who was also a friend of Epstein.

Clinton has strongly denied knowledge of Epstein's crimes. The department's decision came at the urging of Trump, who also asked for Summers, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, and banks JP Morgan and Chase to be investigated.

Hoffman is yet to comment. A spokesperson for JPMorgan Chase stated that the firm regretted any association with Epstein and added it did not help him commit his heinous acts.

Trump was also mentioned in the emails, which do not imply any wrongdoing.

Epstein was a Democrat, and he is the Democrat's problem, not the Republican's problem! he wrote on social media.

Summers and Epstein frequently met for dinner, with Epstein trying to connect Summers to prominent global figures. In a separate email just after Trump's first election in 2016, Summers advised Epstein to spend zero effort on anything about me with Trump.

In a previous statement, Summers expressed deep regrets over his contact with Epstein following Epstein's conviction in 2008.

The emails indicate Trump was mentioned in over 1,600 of the 2,324 email threads, although he did not send or receive them.