Influential economist and former Harvard President Larry Summers will leave his research and teaching roles at the university following increased scrutiny over his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move comes after Harvard initiated an internal review of Summers and other scholars last November, prompted by the release of documents detailing their associations with Epstein.
The Investigation and Summers’ Departure
Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton confirmed that Kennedy School Dean Jeremy Weinstein accepted Summers’ resignation as co-director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government. Summers will also retire from his remaining academic and faculty appointments at the end of the current school year, remaining on leave until then.
The decision follows the release of emails by a congressional committee in November, revealing the extent of Summers’ relationship with Epstein. These communications indicate Summers sought advice from Epstein in 2018-2019 regarding a relationship with a younger woman described as a mentee. Epstein died by suicide while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019.
Wider Implications and Other Resignations
Summers recently resigned from his position on OpenAI’s board. In a statement, he described the decision as “difficult” and expressed a desire to continue research and commentary on global economic issues.
This resignation is part of a broader pattern: Nobel laureate Richard Axel announced his departure from Columbia University’s Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute earlier this week, also due to links with Epstein.
The resignations of Summers and Axel underscore the growing pressure on high-profile figures to distance themselves from individuals with credible accusations of sexual misconduct. This trend highlights the increased scrutiny of professional networks and the reputational risks associated with controversial affiliations.
