Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers announced that he would withdraw from the public arena following the release of newly unearthed emails that revealed the depth and duration of his personal relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The disclosure of these communications, which came to light through official congressional channels, added fresh dimensions to the long-scrutinized ties between powerful figures and the late financier. Summers, one of the most recognizable voices in modern economic thought and a longtime Harvard professor, expressed contrition and remorse in a formal statement delivered to Business Insider on Monday. He openly acknowledged his personal failings, admitting that his judgment had been severely compromised by his continued correspondence with Epstein. “I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused,” he declared, before going on to state unequivocally, “I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein.”\n\nJeffrey Epstein, now deceased, was a well-known American financier who constructed a complex web of relationships within elite social and political circles while simultaneously concealing a history of sexual exploitation and criminal behavior. Having been convicted as a sex offender, Epstein became infamous not only for his immense wealth but also for his proximity to powerful individuals—including global political leaders, prominent cultural icons, and business magnates. In 2019, as he awaited trial on federal charges related to sex trafficking and the abuse of underage girls, Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail. The severity of his crimes and the stature of his acquaintances—among them former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, as well as Prince Andrew, Duke of York (officially Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor)—have continued to cast a long shadow over those once connected to him.\n\nThe most recent trove of emails, which chronicle years of communication between Summers and Epstein, was made public last week by the House Oversight Committee. These records offered an unusually personal glimpse into their association, revealing moments in which Summers, who had served as Treasury Secretary under President Clinton and later advised President Barack Obama, sought guidance of a deeply private nature. In one email exchange, Summers solicited Epstein’s counsel on how to court a woman he referred to as his mentee—a revelation that provoked both astonishment and condemnation within academic and political circles alike. In another correspondence, Summers made a controversial suggestion implying that women possessed, on average, a lower intellectual capacity than men. This sentiment echoed remarks he had made two decades earlier, in 2005, when his comments regarding women’s aptitude in mathematics and the sciences ignited widespread public criticism and catalyzed his resignation as Harvard University’s president the following year.\n\nSummers’ connection to Epstein, however, extended well beyond simple email exchanges. Their association was documented through flight logs published by Gawker in 2015, showing that Summers had traveled aboard Epstein’s private jet. Additional scheduling records from 2014, later obtained by Business Insider, placed Summers on Epstein’s calendar—further underscoring that their relationship persisted over several years despite Epstein’s growing notoriety and criminal record.\n\nIn his most recent statement, Summers maintained that he would continue fulfilling his academic responsibilities as an educator at Harvard University, though he would deliberately step away from public-facing roles and external engagements. He stated that this hiatus from public activity would allow him to focus on “repairing relationships with the people closest” to him—an acknowledgment of the emotional and reputational harm caused by his decisions. Harvard University, when approached by Business Insider for comment, did not issue an immediate response, leaving the institution’s position on his continued employment unresolved.\n\nAs news of the revelations spread, political reactions emerged swiftly. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a former Harvard Law School professor who has previously clashed with Summers on economic policy, publicly urged Harvard to reconsider its association with him. Speaking to CNN on Tuesday, Warren characterized Summers’ behavior as indicative of “monumentally bad judgment,” arguing that his inability to distance himself from someone so deeply implicated in sexual crimes against minors demonstrated a profound lapse in ethical discernment. She further contended that such moral blindness rendered him unfit not only to advise national leaders and institutions but also to continue shaping the minds of students within one of the world’s most prestigious universities. Warren’s office, like Harvard’s, did not immediately respond to Business Insider’s subsequent inquiries for comment.\n\nBeyond his teaching commitments, Summers’ professional endeavors in recent years had included several high-profile roles in policy circles and the private sector. He had served as a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress (CAP), contributed regularly to Bloomberg’s economic analysis platforms, and held a board position at the artificial intelligence research company OpenAI. In the wake of the controversy, CAP confirmed to Business Insider that Summers’ affiliation with the think tank had officially concluded. Bloomberg and OpenAI, when contacted, declined to provide immediate comment regarding their future relationships with him.\n\nSummers is married to Elisa New, a distinguished academic and the creator and host of PBS’s acclaimed series “Poetry in America.” Together, the couple has raised six children. His decision to retreat from public life marks not only a turning point in his career but also a moment of reflection on the ethical responsibilities attached to influence, intellect, and leadership in both public and academic spheres.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/larry-summers-stepping-away-public-life-epstein-emails-harvard-work-2025-11
