Harvard University economist Larry Summers will pause his teaching duties and administrative roles as the institution examines his connections to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. A spokesperson confirmed the move on Wednesday, noting that Summers’ co-instructors will cover his remaining classes this semester.
The decision follows renewed scrutiny of Summers’ relationship with Epstein, after the recent release of email correspondence by a congressional oversight committee. The communications suggest a personal association that continued into 2019, ending only shortly before Epstein’s arrest on federal sex-trafficking charges.
Summers will also take immediate leave from his position as director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at Harvard’s Kennedy School, a role he has held since 2011.
This development comes just days after Summers announced he would scale back his public commitments in response to the email disclosures but initially intended to continue teaching. The correspondence includes messages in which Summers appears to seek Epstein’s advice regarding a personal relationship, with Epstein referring to himself as Summers’ “wingman” in one 2018 exchange.
In related developments, the former treasury secretary has resigned from several prominent positions in recent days, including the board of artificial intelligence firm OpenAI. He has also departed from roles at multiple policy and research organizations.
Harvard previously conducted an internal review of its Epstein connections, which revealed the financier had contributed approximately $9 million to the university between 1998 and 2008.
