Larry Summers, who once led Harvard University, has decided to reduce his public engagements, as reported by the university’s student newspaper.
In a statement given to The Harvard Crimson on Monday, Summers explained that this decision aims to “rebuild trust and mend relationships with those closest to me.”
This move comes on the heels of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform releasing seven years of correspondence between Summers and Jeffrey E. Epstein, the financier who fell from grace.
Previously confidential documents reveal that Summers maintained a line of communication with Epstein until as recently as July 5, 2019, a mere day prior to Epstein’s arrest on fresh sex-trafficking charges.
Among the extensive messages made public, Summers is seen expressing confidence in Epstein, even discussing personal matters such as his romantic pursuits with a woman he referred to as his mentee.
In the hundreds of messages released, Summers also appeared to place trust in Epstein and confided to him about his pursuit of a romantic relationship with a woman he described as a mentee.
Among the released messages was one from November 2018 in which Epstein describes himself as Summers’ “wing man,” as he continued advising Summers on the relationship for months.
Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in Cambridge, MA on 9/8/04. Epstein is connected with several prominent people, including politicians, actors and academics. Epstein was convicted of having sex with an underaged woman. (Photo by Rick Friedman/Rick Friedman Photography/Corbis via Getty Images)
“I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused,” Summers wrote in his statement to the Crimson.
“I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein,” he added.
Summers holds several roles in his professional life. He is a senior fellow at the think tank Center for American Progress, a paid columnist with Bloomberg News, and a board member at OpenAI.
Larry Summers, president emeritus and professor at Harvard University, at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
He also remains a University Professor at Harvard and serves as director of the Mossavar‑Rahmani Center for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School, which he will continue to oversee, his spokesman said, according to the outlet.
In Monday’s statement, the former Harvard president added: “While continuing to fulfill my teaching obligations, I will be stepping back from public commitments as one part of my broader effort.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Harvard University for comment.
