Harvard economist Larry Summers has moved to withdraw from public activity after congressional documents exposed years of personal email exchanges between him and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who referred to himself as Summers’ “wing man”. The disclosures ignited swift political backlash, forcing institutions to reconsider their ties with the former treasury secretary. Summers says he will continue teaching at Harvard but will suspend other public engagements as part of an effort to “rebuild trust”. Lawmakers from both parties have urged companies to distance themselves, intensifying scrutiny around his long-running relationship with Epstein.
Summers’ Public Withdrawal
Summers confirmed to Politico that he feels “deeply ashamed” of the email exchanges and acknowledged the impact of his actions. He said he accepts full responsibility for continuing communication with Epstein even after his criminal conviction. While he intends to keep his teaching role, he will step back from public commitments to repair strained relationships. The Center for American Progress also confirmed that Summers is ending his tenure as a “distinguished senior fellow”.
Bipartisan Pressure Mounts
Lawmakers from both major parties have demanded that institutions sever ties with Summers over the newly released correspondence. Senator Elizabeth Warren told CNN that he must be held accountable for maintaining a relationship with Epstein for years. She said, “If he had so little ability to distance himself from Jeffrey Epstein even after all that was publicly known about Epstein’s sex offenses involving underage girls, then Summers cannot be trusted to advise our nation’s politicians, policymakers, and institutions, or teach a generation of students at Harvard or anywhere else.” A senior Trump administration official similarly questioned why Summers still holds influential positions.
Widespread Network Exposed
The emails released by the House oversight committee highlighted that Epstein maintained active communication with business executives, academics, reporters, and political figures even after his 2008 guilty plea. Summers was among those corresponding with him between 2013 and 2019, exchanging personal observations on politics and personal matters. One 2018 message from Epstein referred to himself as Summers’ “wing man”, raising further alarm among policymakers.
Trump Orders New Investigation
Summers is now under a fresh investigation launched by President Donald Trump last week. The president directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to scrutinize several Democratic figures and institutions mentioned in the released documents. Some of the emails appeared to suggest that Trump himself might have been aware of Epstein’s conduct, intensifying political tensions around the disclosures.
Controversial Email Content
The records showed Summers expressing personal views on gender and societal issues. In one 2017 email, he wrote to Epstein, “I’m trying to figure out why the American elite think if u murder your baby by beating and abandonment, it must be irrelevant to your admission to Harvard, but hit on a few women 10 years ago and can’t work at a network or think tank. DO NOT REPEAT THIS INSIGHT.” In other messages, he discussed women’s intelligence and sought Epstein’s guidance on a romantic situation.
Harvard Community Outraged
Faculty members at Harvard have condemned the nature of the exchanges. The Harvard Crimson reported widespread anger among professors after reviewing the emails. Statistics professor Joseph K Blitzstein told the paper, “The cozy friendship between Epstein and Summers on display in the emails is disgusting and disgraceful.” Summers reiterated to the Crimson that he holds “great regrets” and called his association with Epstein a “major error of judgment”.
Past Connections Revisited
Summers’ ties to Epstein were previously reported by the Wall Street Journal in 2023. One disclosed incident from 2014 showed Summers asking Epstein for advice on securing $1m in funding for his wife’s poetry project. The resurfaced details have reignited debate over Summers’ long-standing engagement with Epstein and the judgment he exercised throughout their interactions.