Key points: A major newspaper will not renew Lawrence Summers' opinion contract after thousands of emails revealed a years-long correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, including a 2018 note in which Epstein called himself Summers' "wing man." Summers said he will continue teaching but step back from public duties and accepted responsibility for continuing to communicate with Epstein. Several institutions have ended or suspended ties with Summers while other organizations have declined to comment on his status.
Lawrence Summers Loses Media and Institutional Roles After Epstein Email Leak
A major national newspaper has announced it will not renew Lawrence (Larry) Summers' opinion contract after a trove of emails between Summers and the late financier Jeffrey Epstein became public. The files — released by House Republicans — show a years-long correspondence that continued until 5 July 2019, the day before Epstein's arrest on sex‑trafficking charges.
Among the newly released messages is a 2018 exchange in which Epstein referred to himself as Summers' "wing man." The documents also include communications in which Summers asked Epstein for relationship advice and discussed the prospect of "getting horizontal" with a woman the two nicknamed "peril."
The disclosures prompted calls from lawmakers and prompted several organizations to sever or suspend formal ties with Summers. A prominent think tank said his affiliation has ended, and a Yale program confirmed he is no longer on its advisory group. A major photojournalism and opinion outlet said it will not renew his contributor contract; a technology company where Summers sits on the board declined to comment on his status.
In a statement, Summers said he will continue his teaching duties but will step back from public-facing activities to "rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me." He added:
I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused. I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein.
The released messages depict a lengthy, informal connection between the two men. In an email dated 16 March 2019, Summers recounted an interaction with a woman: "I said what are you up to. She said 'I'm busy'. I said awfully coy u are." Epstein replied in his characteristic shorthand and with spelling errors: "You reacted well.. annoyed shows caring. , no whining showed strentgh." In the same thread, Epstein suggested a message Summers might send: "Just send, happy for the time we spent together- have fun see you soon."
On social media, former president Donald Trump said he would ask the US Department of Justice and the FBI to investigate Epstein's "involvement and relationship" with Summers and several other prominent figures. The list, according to Trump, did not include Republicans.
Summers served as US Treasury secretary from 1999 to 2001 and resigned as Harvard president in 2006. He currently teaches and directs the Mossavar‑Rahmani Center for Business and Government. Summers did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.
Help us improve.
