Harvard reopens probe into ex-university president after Epstein emails release
Larry Summers, right, said he would be stepping back from public commitments (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP/Michel Euler)
Harvard University has reopened an investigation into connections between its former president Larry Summers and Jeffrey Epstein, a university spokesperson said, as Mr Summers’ office said he would resign from the board of OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT.
Regarded as a leading voice on the US economy, Mr Summers was also affiliated with multiple think tanks, research centres and media organisations. Several of these confirmed their affiliations had ended.
Harvard did not mention Mr Summers by name, but the decision to restart the investigation follows the release of emails showing that Mr Summers, a former US treasury secretary, maintained a friendly relationship with Epstein long after the financier pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl in 2008.
“The university is conducting a review of information concerning individuals at Harvard included in the newly released Jeffrey Epstein documents to evaluate what actions may be warranted,” spokesperson Jason Newton said in a statement first reported by and .
An earlier review completed in 2020 found that Epstein visited Harvard’s campus more than 40 times after his 2008 sex-crimes conviction and was given his own office and unfettered access to a research centre he helped establish.
The professor who provided the office was later barred from starting new research or advising students for at least two years.
Mr Summers said late on Monday that he would step back from public commitments. His office said on Wednesday this included resigning from the board of directors of OpenAI.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to have served, excited about the potential of the company, and look forward to following their progress,” he said in a statement.
The OpenAI board said it appreciated Mr Summers’ contributions and perspective.
Mr Summers joined the OpenAI board in November 2023, part of an effort to restore stability at the not-for-profit organisation and bring back its chief executive, Sam Altman, after previous board members fired Mr Altman days earlier.
Mr Summers appeared before his economics class on Tuesday and addressed his involvement with Epstein.
“Some of you will have seen my statement of regret expressing my shame with respect to what I did in communication with Mr Epstein and that I’ve said that I’m going to step back from public activities for a while. But I think it’s very important to fulfil my teaching obligations,” he said.
Mr Summers’ remarks were captured on video by Harvard student Rosie Couture, who shared the video online.
Epstein, who authorities said died by suicide in 2019, was a convicted sex offender known for his connections to wealthy and powerful people, making him a fixture of outrage and conspiracy theories about wrongdoing among American elites.
Mr Summers served as treasury secretary from 1999 to 2001 under former US president Bill Clinton.
He was Harvard’s president for five years from 2001 to 2006.
When asked about the emails last week, Mr Summers issued a statement saying he had “great regrets in my life” and that his association with Epstein was a “major error in judgment”.
Other organisations that confirmed the end of their affiliations with Mr Summers included the Centre for American Progress, the Centre for Global Development and the Budget Lab at Yale University.
said Mr Summers’ withdrawal from public commitments included his role as a paid contributor, and the New York Times said it would not renew his contract as a contributing opinion writer.
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