Former Harvard University president Larry Summers announced Monday night that he would step away from several public engagements, following renewed criticism over his past association with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
His decision came just hours after U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren urged Harvard University to sever its remaining ties with Summers, who currently heads the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School.
The move has reignited questions about the nature of Summers’ interactions with Epstein, particularly in light of thousands of newly released documents detailing years of correspondence between the two men.
New Records Shed Light on the Relationship
Last week, the U.S. House Oversight Committee made public more than 20,000 documents obtained from Epstein’s estate through a subpoena. Among these files were email exchanges showing that Summers and Epstein maintained contact for several years—right up until the financier’s death in federal custody in 2019.
The emails reveal a relationship that included:
- Direct email exchanges
- Phone calls
- Occasional visits
- Personal discussions about politics, global affairs, and even relationship matters
Though Epstein at times appeared to ask Summers for assistance or introductions, the documents show no evidence that Summers engaged in criminal activity.
Summers, who previously served as U.S. Treasury Secretary and a senior economic adviser to President Barack Obama, has consistently said he regrets maintaining contact with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction in Florida for soliciting minors.
Summers Told Epstein He Wanted No Links to Trump
One of the more striking exchanges in the newly released records occurred in November 2016—just weeks after Donald Trump won the presidential election.
In the email thread, Epstein floated the idea of arranging a meeting between Summers and the son of a Senegalese leader. Summers responded by firmly instructing Epstein not to involve him in anything related to Trump.
“Spend zero effort on anything about me with Trump,” Summers wrote, referencing Trump’s approach to ethics, foreign relations and his public remarks.
Summers said he preferred to keep as much distance as possible from the newly elected president.
Emails Show Discussions About Russia and Trump
In another exchange from July 2018, a year before Epstein’s arrest on federal sex trafficking charges, Summers wrote to Epstein asking:
“Do the Russians have stuff on Trump?”
Epstein replied that many people were expressing similar concerns after Trump’s public comments during a controversial appearance alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Wow. I’m sure his view is that it went super well,” Epstein wrote, adding that Trump “has no idea of most things.”
Summers closed the exchange by asking Epstein for a number to call him later.
Jokes About Trump and Alan Dershowitz
Additional emails from December 2018 reveal the two discussing the mental health of both Trump and attorney Alan Dershowitz, a former Harvard Law professor who had defended both men at different points.
Epstein wrote:
“Trump — borderline insane. Dersh, a few feet further from the border but not by much.”
The messages show Epstein engaging in casual banter even as he remained under scrutiny for his past criminal conduct.
Donations, Dinners, and Regret
Prior reporting by The Wall Street Journal in 2023 revealed further details about the financial aspects of the relationship. According to the Journal, Summers once sought a $1 million donation from Epstein to support an online poetry project run by Summers’ wife. Epstein eventually contributed $110,000, and was later invited to dinner by Summers.
A spokesperson for Summers told the paper that he “deeply regrets being in contact with Epstein after his conviction,” adding that the poetry project also regrets accepting the funding.
Summers Steps Back — But Questions Remain
In his statement Monday night, Summers said he would be pausing some of his public commitments in light of the controversy. Though he did not specify which duties he would suspend, he emphasized that he did not want his presence to distract from Harvard or the work of the Kennedy School.
Summers has not been accused of illegal activity, but the resurfacing of years’ worth of emails has intensified public scrutiny—particularly at a time when academic institutions are being pressed to explain past connections to Epstein.
As Harvard faces renewed pressure from lawmakers and the public, the former university leader’s future involvement in school affairs remains uncertain.
