Harvard University has initiated a fresh investigation into its former president, Larry Summers, concerning his connections to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The development coincides with Summers' resignation from the board of artificial intelligence leader OpenAI, marking a significant retreat from public life.
Deepening Scrutiny and Resignations
The new probe was confirmed to the Harvard Crimson by a university spokesperson on Tuesday night. It will examine the extent of Summers' relationship with Epstein, detailed in nearly 23,000 documents recently released by a congressional oversight committee. The review will also encompass other Harvard affiliates named in the files, including Summers' wife, Elisa New, an English professor at the university.
Separately, OpenAI announced that Larry Summers has decided to resign from its Board of Directors. The company stated it respects his decision, with Summers confirming the move in his own statement, as first reported by Axios. This follows his departure from other prominent roles at organisations such as Bloomberg, the New York Times, and the Center for American Progress thinktank.
Damning Email Correspondence Revealed
The newly public documents contain email exchanges that drag the former US Treasury Secretary deeper into the scandal. In messages from 2018, Summers appears to have sought advice from the disgraced financier on pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman he described as his mentee. Epstein referred to himself as Summers' "wing man" in one communication.
Further emails show Summers' wife, Elisa New, discussing her projects with Epstein and soliciting financial support. In a December 2015 message, she pursued a potential $500,000 gift for Poetry in America, a television and digital initiative she oversees, writing, "It really means a lot to me, all financial help aside, Jeffrey, that you are rooting for me and thinking about me."
Public Fallout and Institutional Reckoning
In response to the document release, Summers announced on Monday that he would be stepping back from public engagements. He expressed deep shame for his actions and acknowledged the pain they caused. "I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr Epstein," Summers said in a statement.
This is not Harvard's first examination of its institutional links to Epstein. A previous university report found that Epstein had donated approximately $9 million to Harvard between 1998 and 2008. Following Epstein's death by suicide in a New York jail in 2019, Harvard's president, Lawrence Bacow, stated he "profoundly regrets Harvard’s past association with him," calling Epstein's crimes "repulsive and reprehensible." The latest investigation signals the prestigious institution's ongoing efforts to grapple with the full scope of the scandal.
