Larry Summers Withdraws From Public Roles, Says He Is “Deeply Ashamed” After Epstein Email Revelations

The former Treasury secretary faces mounting pressure as newly released messages show he sought Epstein’s advice on romantic pursuits and made controversial remarks about women’s intelligence. Harvard, OpenAI, and other institutions are now weighing next steps.

WASHINGTON | Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers announced Monday that he will be stepping back from high-profile public commitments after newly released emails revealed an unexpectedly close — and deeply troubling — advisory relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In a statement to 'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' News, Summers expressed “deep shame” and accepted responsibility for communications in which he sought Epstein’s advice on personal matters, including how to pursue a romantic relationship with a woman he called his mentee. In one exchange, Epstein described himself as Summers’ “wing man,” while Summers, in another email, suggested women on average have a lower IQ than men.

“I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused,” Summers said. “I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein. While continuing to fulfill 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.”

Mounting Political Pressure

Summers’ retreat from public life comes as bipartisan calls grow for institutions to cut ties with him. A senior Trump administration official and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) both urged organizations to reassess their relationships with the former Obama economic adviser.

The fallout raises immediate questions about Summers’ current roles, including his board seat at OpenAI, his tenured professorship at Harvard, a nonresident fellowship at the Center for American Progress (CAP), and his paid contributor position at Bloomberg News. A spokesperson for Summers declined to clarify whether he intends to relinquish any of those positions.

Institutions on Alert

Reaction from institutions associated with Summers was mixed on Monday:

• Bloomberg News declined to comment.
• OpenAI did not respond to requests for comment.
• Harvard University, where Summers is a former president, also did not comment publicly.
• CAP said it is currently “reviewing last week’s disclosures to determine appropriate next steps.”

The growing scrutiny highlights the far-reaching implications of the latest batch of Epstein-related disclosures, which continue to expose previously unknown connections between Epstein and powerful political, financial, and academic figures.

A Reputation Under Renewed Fire

Summers, a major figure in Democratic economic policymaking for more than three decades, is confronting one of the most serious reputational crises of his career. His comments about women’s intelligence recall earlier controversies, including the uproar in 2005 when he speculated at a conference that “intrinsic aptitude” differences may explain gender disparities in STEM fields — a moment widely believed to have contributed to his departure from Harvard’s presidency.

Now, with newly revealed emails again raising questions about his judgment and attitudes toward women, Summers faces deep uncertainty about his future influence in public life, policymaking, and academia.

As investigations into the Epstein files continue, institutions across Washington, New York, and academia are bracing for further revelations — and potentially more fallout.

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-- By James W. Thomas and Lakisha Brown

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