Larry Summers to Resign From Harvard Post Amid Epstein Ties
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers will resign from his teaching positions at Harvard University at the end of the academic year, the university announced Wednesday, following renewed scrutiny over his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Summers, who had been on leave since November, faced questions after the release of documents detailing extensive interactions with Epstein. Harvard had reopened an investigation into the matter last year, prompted by the newly released files.
“Professor Summers has announced that he will retire from his academic and faculty appointments at Harvard at the end of this academic year and will remain on leave until that time,” Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton said in a statement.
In his own statement, Summers expressed gratitude for his five decades at the university and indicated a desire to continue research and commentary on global economic issues. “Free of formal responsibility… I look forward in time to engaging in research, analysis and commentary on a range of global economic issues,” he said.
The documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice showed frequent exchanges between Summers and Epstein, even after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl in 2008. Summers previously acknowledged those communications, stating he took “full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein” and expressed regret.
The fallout from the Epstein case continues to reverberate through the political and academic spheres. Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to testify before a congressional committee on his own ties to Epstein on Friday, while former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will appear on Thursday.
Summers served as Treasury Secretary under President Clinton from 1999 to 2001 and later as president of Harvard University from 2001 to 2006. He also recently stepped down from the board of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, in November.
Epstein, who died by suicide in a jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, cultivated a network of powerful individuals, and the revelations of his connections to prominent figures have led to resignations and damaged reputations. Harvard itself acknowledged Epstein donated $9.1 million to the university between 1998 and 2008.
While the mere mention in the Epstein files doesn’t imply wrongdoing, the case has prompted a broader examination of associations with the disgraced financier and his alleged crimes.
Image of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, AP Photo/Jon Elswick
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