Former Harvard University President Larry Summers has announced that he will be stepping back from his public commitments following the release of his emails with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. In a heartfelt statement obtained by CBS News, Summers expressed his deep shame regarding his past actions and acknowledged the pain they have inflicted on others. “I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein,” he stated.
The emails, which were made public by Congress last week, reveal that Summers maintained communication with Epstein up until the day before Epstein's arrest in 2019 on charges of sex trafficking minors. This revelation has sparked outrage and has led to calls for further investigations into Epstein's connections with various powerful figures, including former President Bill Clinton.
On Tuesday, House members are expected to vote on whether to release all files related to Epstein. This comes after the US Department of Justice announced it would investigate Epstein's relationships with high-profile individuals, including Clinton and several prominent Democrats. The investigation was prompted by pressure from former President Donald Trump, who also called for inquiries into other individuals associated with Epstein, including Summers, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, and major banks like JP Morgan and Chase.
Clinton has vehemently denied any knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities. Summers served as the treasury secretary under Clinton and was the director of the National Economic Council under former President Barack Obama. He held the presidency at Harvard from 2001 to 2006 and is currently a professor at the institution.
In his recent statement, Summers emphasized his desire to rebuild trust and repair relationships with those closest to him. “While continuing to fulfill my teaching obligations, I will be stepping back from public commitments as part of my broader effort,” he said. The Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank in Washington where Summers was a senior fellow, confirmed on their website that he is no longer affiliated with the center.
The released emails suggest that Summers and Epstein met for dinner frequently, with Epstein attempting to introduce Summers to various influential global figures. In July 2018, Epstein even proposed a meeting with the President of the United Nations, describing him as an “interesting person for you.”
In a separate email shortly after Trump’s election in 2016, Summers advised Epstein to refrain from making any connections with Trump, citing concerns regarding Trump's handling of conflicts of interest and his proximity to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
A representative for Summers previously stated that he deeply regrets his association with Epstein, especially following Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting an underage prostitute. A review conducted by The Wall Street Journal revealed that Trump was mentioned in over 1,600 of the 2,324 email threads, indicating a longstanding connection between Trump and Epstein. While Trump has acknowledged his past friendship with Epstein, he has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein's criminal activities.
As the investigations unfold and the scrutiny continues, Larry Summers' decision to step back from public commitments marks a significant moment in the ongoing discourse surrounding Epstein's extensive network and the accountability of those involved.