BOSTON (AP) — Larry Summers, the former president of Harvard University and ex-U.S. Treasury Secretary, stated he will be reducing his public commitments following recent releases of emails that reveal he maintained a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein well after Epstein had pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl in 2008.
In a public statement, Summers indicated his intention to step back to 'rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me,' acknowledging the distress his decisions have caused.
Summers expressed, 'I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused. I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein.'
Although he offered few specifics on what 'stepping back' means, Summers confirmed he would continue teaching and is committed to mending his personal relationships. However, it was announced that he is ending his fellowship at the Center for American Progress, a prominent progressive think tank, and is no longer part of Yale's Budget Lab advisory group.
The fallout escalated after President Donald Trump made comments on his Truth Social platform suggesting that the Justice Department and FBI investigate Summers and other allegedly connected figures, including former President Bill Clinton and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that a top federal prosecutor was appointed to lead this investigation.
The emails, which surfaced last week, demonstrated that many wealthy and prominent associates of Epstein remained in contact long after his previous legal troubles. In a notable 2019 email to Epstein, Summers described his interactions with a woman, expressing an unexpectedly casual demeanor toward a situation that drew considerable criticism.
In response to these developments, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren commented that she believes Harvard should cut ties with Summers, describing his decisions as reflective of a lack of judgment. She emphasized that for too long, Summers has worked closely with the affluent and well-connected, and his friendship with a convicted sex offender exemplifies poor decision-making.
Summers, who served as Treasury Secretary from 1999 to 2001 and as Harvard’s president from 2001 to 2006, has stated that this association has been a 'major error in judgment.' Following Epstein's death in jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, the wider implications of Summers' relationship with Epstein continue to resonate throughout academic and political circles.
In a public statement, Summers indicated his intention to step back to 'rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me,' acknowledging the distress his decisions have caused.
Summers expressed, 'I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused. I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein.'
Although he offered few specifics on what 'stepping back' means, Summers confirmed he would continue teaching and is committed to mending his personal relationships. However, it was announced that he is ending his fellowship at the Center for American Progress, a prominent progressive think tank, and is no longer part of Yale's Budget Lab advisory group.
The fallout escalated after President Donald Trump made comments on his Truth Social platform suggesting that the Justice Department and FBI investigate Summers and other allegedly connected figures, including former President Bill Clinton and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that a top federal prosecutor was appointed to lead this investigation.
The emails, which surfaced last week, demonstrated that many wealthy and prominent associates of Epstein remained in contact long after his previous legal troubles. In a notable 2019 email to Epstein, Summers described his interactions with a woman, expressing an unexpectedly casual demeanor toward a situation that drew considerable criticism.
In response to these developments, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren commented that she believes Harvard should cut ties with Summers, describing his decisions as reflective of a lack of judgment. She emphasized that for too long, Summers has worked closely with the affluent and well-connected, and his friendship with a convicted sex offender exemplifies poor decision-making.
Summers, who served as Treasury Secretary from 1999 to 2001 and as Harvard’s president from 2001 to 2006, has stated that this association has been a 'major error in judgment.' Following Epstein's death in jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, the wider implications of Summers' relationship with Epstein continue to resonate throughout academic and political circles.
