Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers has announced that he will resign from his teaching position at Harvard University as the institution reviews his connections to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Summers, who has been on leave since November, will officially step down at the end of the academic year.
Summers’ Statement on Resignation
Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton confirmed the resignation, stating that Summers would remain on leave until the academic year concludes. Summers expressed gratitude for his time at the university, acknowledging the difficulty of his decision.
In his own statement, Summers reflected on his 50-year academic career, including five years as Harvard’s president. He stated that as President Emeritus and a retired professor, he looks forward to continuing research and commentary on global economic issues.
Epstein Files Reveal Summers’ Long-Standing Relationship with Epstein
The resignation follows the release of new documents by the Justice Department, which revealed Summers’ extensive ties to Epstein over the years.
The newly uncovered files show Summers and Epstein had personal visits at each other’s homes in Massachusetts and New York. Their communications included discussions on various topics, including politics, the economy, and women.
One particular email from 2018 revealed that Summers had consulted Epstein about a relationship with a woman he was tutoring in economics. Epstein, who referred to himself as Summers’ “wing man,” encouraged him to persist in pursuing the relationship. Summers clarified that the woman was not his student but had connections to a Chinese economic official.
In a separate email exchange in 2016, Summers appeared to use a racial slur while discussing a meeting between Epstein and a Chinese university official.
Summers’ Regret Over Epstein Ties
Following earlier revelations about his association with Epstein, Summers publicly expressed regret for his actions. He acknowledged that his connection with Epstein was a “major error in judgment.” Harvard University has not made any official statements about Summers’ relationship with Epstein, but they have been reviewing ties between individuals at Harvard and Epstein as part of a broader investigation.
Epstein’s Donations to Harvard and Associated Fallout
Epstein’s significant financial contributions to Harvard were also a point of scrutiny. A 2020 report revealed that Epstein had donated over $9 million to the university, mainly funding a center founded by professor Martin Nowak. The report did not directly address Summers’ ties to Epstein, but Nowak was later disciplined by the university for his involvement.
Impact on Summers’ Professional Career
Summers’ resignation comes after significant professional consequences. In December, he was banned for life from the American Economic Association due to his ties to Epstein.
Other Academic Figures Step Down Over Epstein Links
Summers’ resignation follows the departure of Dr. Richard Axel, a Nobel laureate and Columbia University professor. Axel, who also had ties to Epstein, announced his resignation as co-director of Columbia’s Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute. Axel expressed regret over his association with Epstein, calling it a “serious error in judgment.”
Axel’s name appeared over 600 times in the Justice Department’s Epstein files, including emails and schedules noting meetings with Epstein. Axel had previously praised Epstein’s intellect in a 2007 interview, despite Epstein’s growing legal troubles at the time.
Resignations Amid Epstein Fallout
The resignations of Summers and Axel are part of a broader wave of fallout from the recent release of millions of pages of documents tied to Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
These documents have led to resignations and increased scrutiny in the academic, legal, and business communities, highlighting the ongoing impact of Epstein’s criminal activities and his connections to prominent figures.
As investigations continue, the repercussions for those linked to Epstein are still unfolding across multiple sectors.
