Former U.S. Treasury Secretary and Harvard University President Larry Summers announced a temporary leave from his teaching duties at Harvard University on 19 November 2025. He also resigned from the OpenAI board. These decisions and developments followed the release of once undisclosed emails linking him to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The emails, spanning 2017 through 2019, reveal Summers discussing social and personal matters with Epstein. Messages included commentary on romantic pursuits, political figures, and elite social networks. One notable exchange in late 2018 described a woman Summers pursued, with Epstein referring to himself as a wingman of Summers in his reply message.
Summers admitted maintaining communication with Epstein despite the 2008 conviction for the solicitation of prostitution involving a minor was a grave error. In an official statement released on 18 November 2025, he expressed shame over the correspondence and emphasized his commitment to accountability and transparency in the wake of public scrutiny.
Harvard University confirmed that Summers will step aside from current teaching responsibilities while the institution reviews the implications of the email release. Other teachers will oversee the completion of the remaining semester courses. Summers is not scheduled to instruct any classes during the subsequent academic term, pending the investigation outcome.
Moreover, aside from his teaching stint at Harvard, Summers resigned from the board of OpenAI on 19 November 2025, a role he assumed in late 2023. Institutional representatives noted that his resignation aligns with a broader effort to maintain public trust and safeguard organizational integrity while investigations continue into past associations.
The emails reportedly included discussions on prominent politicians, elite social networks, and professional contacts. Summers also commented on financial and economic matters and forwarded messages about specific women. This raises questions about judgment, mentorship boundaries, and the appropriateness of private exchanges with a convicted sex offender.
Public reaction has been swift. Political figures and commentators criticized the previous decisions of Summers. Senator Elizabeth Warren described the behavior as demonstrating extraordinarily poor judgment. Calls for accountability have emerged from both sides of the political spectrum to underscore the need for transparency from linked individuals.
Harvard University has confirmed that a formal review is underway to assess the extent of the correspondence and institutional connections. The investigation will determine any necessary actions regarding faculty conduct and institutional policies. The decisions of Summers in recent days reflect an effort to allow the review to proceed without interference.
Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore / Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers / 2025 / Adapted / CC BY-SA 2.0 Generic