Ex-Harvard president Larry Summers steps back from public role after Epstein email release

November 18, 2025

Former Harvard president and U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers has announced he will withdraw from public activities after emails revealed his ongoing communication with Jeffrey Epstein continued until just before Epstein's 2019 arrest on sex trafficking charges. In a public statement, Summers expressed deep shame for maintaining contact with Epstein even after the financier's 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. The disclosure comes as Congress prepares to vote on releasing all remaining Epstein-related documents and as the Justice Department launches investigations into Epstein's relationships with prominent figures at President Trump's request.

Who is affected

Larry Summers (former Harvard president, Treasury Secretary, and current Harvard professor)
Jeffrey Epstein's victims (referenced through the context of sex trafficking charges)
Students and colleagues at Harvard University where Summers teaches
The Center for American Progress organization
OpenAI and its board members
Bill Clinton and other prominent Democrats under DOJ investigation
Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn founder)
JPMorgan Chase bank

What action is being taken

Summers is stepping back from public commitments while continuing his teaching obligations at Harvard
The House is expected to vote on a measure calling for release of all Epstein-related files
The U.S. Department of Justice is conducting an investigation into Epstein's relationships with Bill Clinton and other prominent figures
The Center for American Progress has ended Summers' affiliation with the organization

Why it matters

This matters because it involves a highly influential economist and policy advisor who held senior positions in multiple presidential administrations maintaining contact with a convicted sex offender until immediately before his arrest on serious criminal charges. The situation raises questions about judgment, accountability, and ethical standards among America's political and academic elite. The broader investigation and document release effort could reveal the extent of Epstein's connections to powerful figures and potentially expose who may have enabled or ignored his criminal activities.

What's next

The House measure calling for release of Epstein files will head to the Senate after the expected vote
The measure requires approval from President Donald Trump
The Justice Department investigation into Epstein's relationships with prominent Democrats is ongoing

Read full article from source: BBC