Larry Summers Steps Back from Public Life Following Epstein Email Revelations

Tue Nov 18 2025 20:31:30 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers announces his decision to withdraw from public commitments after emails reveal his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, prompting significant backlash and an ongoing investigation.

Larry Summers, the former Harvard president and U.S. Treasury Secretary, announced he's stepping back from public engagements due to emails that revealed a continued relationship with Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. Summers expressed regret for his actions and acknowledged the harm caused. His withdrawal includes ending his fellowship at the Center for American Progress and his advisory role at Yale. The announcement follows calls for investigations into his ties with Epstein amid intense public scrutiny. Senators are pushing for further accountability, with some calling for him to sever ties with Harvard.

BOSTON (AP) — Larry Summers, the former president of Harvard University and U.S. Treasury Secretary, has announced that he will step back from his public commitments following the release of emails that indicate he maintained a friendly relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, even after Epstein's guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.

In a statement, Summers expressed that he was 'deeply ashamed' of his choices, recognizing the pain they have caused and taking full responsibility for his decision to maintain communication with Epstein. He added that his intention in stepping back is to 'rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me.'

While Summers did not clarify the specifics of his withdrawal, it has been confirmed that he is ending his fellowship at the Center for American Progress (CAP) and has left his advisory role with the Budget Lab at Yale.

This announcement closely follows President Donald Trump’s remarks on social media, where he indicated intentions to ask the Justice Department and FBI to investigate Summers’ connections with Epstein alongside prominent figures like former President Bill Clinton and Reid Hoffman. Subsequently, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that a federal prosecutor has been directed to lead the investigation.

Summers' association with Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in prison, resurfaced as emails came to light. In one exchange, Summers discussed interactions with a woman, highlighting his ongoing communication with Epstein long after the 2008 scandal.

Summers, who served as Treasury Secretary from 1999 to 2001 and as Harvard’s president from 2001 to 2006, is currently a professor at Harvard and directs the school's Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government.

Democratic Senator and Harvard alumna Elizabeth Warren criticized Summers, stating he should not be trusted with students due to his associations, emphasizing the poor judgment displayed in fostering a relationship with a convicted sex offender. 'For decades, Larry Summers has demonstrated his attraction to serving the wealthy and well-connected, but his willingness to cozy up to a convicted sex offender demonstrates monumentally bad judgment,' Warren remarked.