Former United States Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers has announced he will step back from his public commitments following the release of documents detailing his personal communications with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Personal Nature of the Connection
According to files released from Epstein's estate last week, Summers sent repeated messages to Epstein in 2018 and 2019 seeking advice about pursuing an extramarital relationship with a female mentee, who was codenamed "peril" in their correspondence. While Summers had previously faced criticism for his association with Epstein, these new revelations highlight the deeply personal nature of their contact.
"I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused," Summers stated on Monday evening. "I will be stepping back from public commitments as one part of my broader effort to rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me."
Immediate Consequences and Reactions
The prominent economist acknowledged his "misguided" decision to maintain contact with the convicted pedophile. He stated he would continue teaching students while withdrawing from the public domain. However, his announcement came after significant backlash had already begun.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a former Harvard law professor, had urged the university to sever ties with Summers before his decision to step back. She described his relationship with Epstein as showing "monumentally bad judgment" and stated he "cannot be trusted to advise our nation's politicians, policymakers and institutions — or teach a generation of students at Harvard or anywhere else."
The Economic Club of New York postponed a scheduled discussion with Summers shortly after The Harvard Crimson published its article revealing the messages. The club cited "an unavoidable change in schedule" as the reason for the postponement.
Broader Implications and Ongoing Roles
Summers remains one of the most influential American macroeconomists of recent decades, regularly contributing to academic conferences, policy discussions, and leading economics publications. He currently serves as a paid contributor at Bloomberg TV and previously wrote for the Financial Times.
As of Monday evening, Summers continued to sit on the board of OpenAI, according to the company. His extensive career includes leading the Treasury department under President Bill Clinton and serving as president of Harvard University.
The scandal emerges amid growing scrutiny in Washington over Epstein's connections with prominent U.S. figures, including former President Donald Trump. A cache of files released last week by members of the U.S. House oversight committee included documentation where Epstein claimed Trump "spent hours at my house" with a woman later identified as a victim of sex trafficking.
Congress may vote to compel the justice department to release additional Epstein files in the coming weeks, potentially revealing more about the extent of his network among powerful individuals.
