On Wednesday, Larry Summers, an economics professor and former president of Harvard University, candidly addressed his class with a statement of remorse regarding his past interactions with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. This comes after Summers had recently withdrawn from public roles due to these connections.
In a TikTok video captured by a student during his lecture at Harvard, Summers openly acknowledged his past actions before delving into his economics course material.
“Some of you may have read my statement of regret,” Summers began, “where I expressed my shame concerning my communications with Mr. Epstein. I’ve decided to take a hiatus from public engagements for a while. However, I believe it’s crucial to continue my teaching duties,” he said before transitioning to discuss the class syllabus.
Students in the Harvard lecture hall listened attentively as Summers addressed his past associations with Epstein, the disgraced financier, before commencing his lecture in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
In addition to his teaching commitments, Summers, who led Harvard from 2001 to 2006 and later held key roles in the Obama administration, stepped down from the board of OpenAI on Wednesday amid the ongoing controversy.
His remarks to the class followed the recent release of emails by a House committee, which uncovered years of personal correspondence between Summers and Epstein. These emails included exchanges in which Summers referred to Epstein, a convicted sex offender, as his “wingman.”
The messages, which span from 2013 to 2019, also show Epstein supporting Summers through 2018, while he was also married, and after Epstein’s conviction.
Former Harvard University president Larry Summers, left, announces he will step back from public commitments following the release of correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein. (Getty Images)
According to The Harvard Crimson, the university also announced it has launched an internal review into faculty members’ connections with Epstein.
Harvard spokesperson Jonathan L. Swain said in a statement to The Crimson that “the University is conducting a review of information concerning individuals at Harvard included in the newly released Jeffrey Epstein documents to evaluate what actions may be warranted.”
The outlet reported other Harvard staff also appeared in the documents, including Alan M. Dershowitz and English professor emerita Elisa F. New, who is married to Summers.
Harvard University has launched an internal review into faculty members’ connections with Epstein. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
Online reactions also showed outrage.
“They are trying to normalize this. Don’t allow this. It’s not right,” one commentator wrote.
“How does Larry Summers still have a job?” another asked. A third called the display “diabolical.”
Harvard and Summers did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
