Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence H. Summers will resign from his teaching position at Harvard University at the end of the current academic year. The decision follows the release of documents detailing his long-standing relationship with the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Summers, a prominent economist and former president of the university, will step down from his professorship after an ongoing review by Harvard into his connections with Epstein. His departure marks a significant development for the institution as it grapples with the fallout from newly public records.
Key Takeaways
- Lawrence H. Summers announced his resignation as a professor at Harvard University, effective at the end of the semester.
- The resignation is linked to an ongoing university review of documents revealing his extensive ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
- Summers has also stepped down from his leadership role at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government.
- Previously, Summers resigned from the board of OpenAI for similar reasons and has stated he takes full responsibility for his communication with Epstein.
University Confirms Departure
Harvard University officially addressed the matter in a statement from a spokesperson. Jason Newton confirmed that Harvard Kennedy School Dean Jeremy Weinstein accepted Summers' resignation from his leadership post as co-director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government.
The university's action comes amid a comprehensive review of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein that were recently released by the government. These documents have brought renewed scrutiny to the networks of powerful individuals connected to Epstein over the years.
The review was initiated by Harvard in November after the initial release of files compiled during criminal investigations into Epstein. The university stated it would examine the conduct of any faculty or staff members named in the documents.
A Prominent Figure in Economics and Policy
Lawrence Summers has been an influential figure in American economic policy for decades. He served as the 71st United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1999 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton and as the Director of the National Economic Council for President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2010. He was also the 27th President of Harvard University from 2001 to 2006.
Scrutiny Over Epstein Communications
The documents that prompted the university's review have shed light on the extent of the relationship between Summers and Epstein. Correspondence between the two has been a focal point of public attention, revealing a close association that continued long after Epstein's initial conviction for sex crimes in 2008.
In one widely reported email, Summers asked Epstein for advice on personal matters, illustrating a level of familiarity that has drawn criticism. Records indicate that their contact continued as recently as July 2019, shortly before Epstein's arrest on federal sex trafficking charges.
Summers has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing in relation to Epstein's activities. However, his continued association with the financier has raised ethical questions and led to professional consequences.
"I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr Epstein," Summers said in a statement to U.S. media following the document releases in November.
Previous Resignation from OpenAI
This is not the first time Summers' connection to Epstein has resulted in his departure from a high-profile position. He previously resigned from the board of the artificial intelligence company OpenAI due to these same ties. The pattern suggests a growing intolerance within major institutions for any association with Epstein's legacy.
Named in Epstein's Will
Further complicating the matter, documents released in December included a 2014 draft of Epstein's will. According to The Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper, Summers was designated as a successor executor in this document. A spokesperson for Summers has denied that he had any knowledge of being included in the draft will.
The Broader Impact on Harvard
The resignation of a figure as prominent as Larry Summers places Harvard under a microscope. The university is one of several elite institutions forced to confront past associations with Epstein, who used his wealth and influence to cultivate relationships in academia, politics, and business.
The ongoing review is part of a broader effort by the university to create transparency and address its historical ties to Epstein. The situation highlights the challenges academic institutions face in vetting donors and associates, and the long-term reputational risks involved.
The university has not yet announced who will replace Summers in his role at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center. His departure from the faculty at the end of the semester will leave a notable vacancy in the economics department and the Kennedy School of Government, where he has been a long-time fixture.
