Larry Summers, former US Treasury Secretary and ex-president of Harvard University, has unexpectedly paused his teaching duties at Harvard amid renewed scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The decision comes after emails surfaced showing Summers maintained a cordial relationship with Epstein well after the financier’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Summers had initially announced on Monday that he would step back from all public engagements but planned to continue teaching economics classes at Harvard. However, by Wednesday evening, he not only stepped away from his courses but also resigned as director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Centre for Business and Government at Harvard Kennedy School. His co-instructors will finish the remaining classes this semester, and he is not scheduled to teach next semester. It remains unclear if he will return to Harvard teaching duties in the future.
Simultaneously, Summers ended his involvement with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, amid the fallout. His spokesperson, Steven Goldberg, stated that Summers’ leave of absence was to allow Harvard to conduct a thorough review. Harvard itself has reopened an investigation related to Epstein connections, although Summers was not explicitly named.
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The disclosures showing Summers’ ongoing communication with Epstein include messages in which Epstein offers advice as Summers contemplates a romantic relationship with someone who viewed him as an “economic mentor.” Summers’ wife, Professor Elisa New, is also documented communicating with Epstein, thanking him for financial support of a poetry project she directs.
The Epstein connection has stirred considerable unrest among Harvard students and faculty. Despite Summers’ previous insistence on continuing his teaching responsibilities—briefly affirmed in a classroom appearance on Tuesday—many were visibly shocked. Past investigations revealed that Epstein had extensive access to Harvard facilities and resources, even after his criminal conviction, raising questions about oversight and ethical boundaries at the institution.
Summers’ prominent career includes serving as Treasury Secretary from 1999 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton and leading Harvard as its president from 2001 to 2006. His current leave marks a significant moment as Harvard confronts the legacy of Epstein’s influence and its own institutional responses.