Former U.S. Treasury Secretary and longtime economic adviser Larry Summers announced on Monday that he will be stepping back from his public commitments following newly released email correspondence with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Summers issued a statement saying: “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. While continuing to fulfil my teaching obligations, I will be stepping back from public commitments as one part of my broader effort to rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me.”
The pressure intensified in recent days as a trove of documents released by the House Oversight Committee revealed extensive exchanges between Summers and Epstein, including one message in which Epstein described himself as Summers’s “wing man” in helping him pursue a woman he referred to as a mentee.
Political backlash was swift. Elizabeth Warren, a U.S. Senator and former Harvard faculty member, said Summers “cannot be trusted” to teach students or advise institutions, given his association with Epstein. A senior administration official also urged groups such as OpenAI, Bloomberg News, and Harvard University to sever ties with Summers.
While Summers will continue his teaching work at Harvard, his many external roles—including fellowships, board positions and contributions to major outlets—are now under review. The move marks a significant pull-back for a prominent Democratic adviser who has served at the highest levels of government and academia, as he faces a reckoning over his judgment and associations.
Sources:
Disclaimer
Artificial Intelligence Disclosure & Legal Disclaimer
AI Content Policy.
To provide our readers with timely and comprehensive coverage, South Florida Reporter uses artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in producing certain articles and visual content.
Articles: AI may be used to assist in research, structural drafting, or data analysis. All AI-assisted text is reviewed and edited by our team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our editorial standards.
Images: Any imagery generated or significantly altered by AI is clearly marked with a disclaimer or watermark to distinguish it from traditional photography or editorial illustrations.
General Disclaimer
The information contained in South Florida Reporter is for general information purposes only.
South Florida Reporter assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents of the Service. In no event shall South Florida Reporter be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tort, arising out of or in connection with the use of the Service or the contents of the Service.
The Company reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the contents of the Service at any time without prior notice. The Company does not warrant that the Service is free of viruses or other harmful components.
