In brief
Larry Summers, former U.S. Treasury Secretary and ex-president of Harvard, has opted for a leave of absence from teaching following the release of emails that show his ongoing relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. This decision comes in light of public backlash and a review initiated by Harvard, looking into Epstein's connections with the university post his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor. Summers expressed regret over his past communications with Epstein but initially planned to continue his teaching duties. The leave was confirmed by his spokesperson amid growing concerns over his affiliations.
Larry Summers, the former U.S. Treasury Secretary, announced that he would take a leave from his teaching position at Harvard University amid revelations from recently released emails detailing his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Summers was under increasing public scrutiny and had initially planned to uphold his teaching commitments despite the fallout from the emails, which demonstrated a friendly rapport with Epstein even after his 2008 guilty plea for soliciting a minor for prostitution.On Wednesday evening, Summers not only withdrew from his teaching classes but also stepped down from his role as director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government. His spokesperson, Steven Goldberg, stated that the leave was in the best interest of the Center while Harvard conducts a review related to the emails.The investigation comes on the heels of previous findings that Epstein had access to Harvard's campus multiple times after his conviction, and even held a position that gave him special privileges. The emails included personal communications where Summers sought advice from Epstein regarding romantic pursuits and revealed his wife’s interactions with him as well, showcasing a complicated network of relationships.Summers commented in his last class that he felt it was crucial to fulfill his teaching obligations, but as the day progressed, it became evident that he would no longer be involved in upcoming lectures. He expressed considerable regret about his connection to Epstein, describing it as a significant error in judgment. The backlash has led to severed ties with multiple organizations and has raised serious concerns about the implications of his associations within the academic and public spheres.
