Larry Summers has stepped away from teaching at Harvard as the university reviews his past communications with Jeffrey Epstein. A student-released video captured Summers saying he felt "shame" about the correspondence, and a congressional release of emails included personal exchanges. Summers will take leave from his directorship, is not scheduled to teach next semester, and has resigned from the OpenAI board. Harvard's review and recent legislative steps to release more Epstein-related files have intensified scrutiny.
Larry Summers Steps Away from Harvard Teaching Amid Epstein Message Fallout
Larry Summers has stepped away from teaching at Harvard as the university reviews his past communications with Jeffrey Epstein. A student-released video captured Summers saying he felt "shame" about the correspondence, and a congressional release of emails included personal exchanges. Summers will take leave from his directorship, is not scheduled to teach next semester, and has resigned from the OpenAI board. Harvard's review and recent legislative steps to release more Epstein-related files have intensified scrutiny.
02:32 PM, 11/20/2025Society
Former Harvard president Larry Summers has stepped away from his teaching duties at Harvard University as the school investigates his past communications with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The university confirmed Wednesday that Summers will go on leave from his role as director of a Harvard center while the review is conducted, and he is not scheduled to teach next semester.
The move follows the release of a student video showing Summers telling an economics class he felt "shame" about his correspondence with Epstein. The controversy intensified after a congressional committee published a cache of personal emails between Summers and Epstein, including exchanges that suggested Summers sought relationship advice.
Statement and immediate steps
In a statement, Summers' spokesperson said, "He has decided it’s in the best interest of the Center for him to go on leave from his role as Director as Harvard undertakes its review." The spokesperson added that Summers' co-instructors will complete the remaining three class sessions this semester.
"He is not scheduled to teach next semester," the spokesperson said.
Separately, Summers announced he would step back from public commitments earlier in the week and subsequently resigned from the board of OpenAI. In his resignation statement, Summers said his decision was consistent with his plan to step away from public roles, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to have served, and said he would follow the company's progress.
Context and significance
Summers has served as director of the Harvard center since 2011. His long public career includes serving as Treasury Secretary during President Bill Clinton's administration and as director of the National Economic Council from 2009 to 2010. The controversy represents a rare, high-profile retreat for a prominent academic and former government official amid renewed scrutiny of ties to Epstein.
Late Wednesday, legislation signed by President Donald Trump cleared the way for the Justice Department to release additional files related to Epstein, potentially increasing public scrutiny of those who corresponded with him.
Students and faculty had increasingly called for accountability after the email disclosures and the student-released video. Harvard's review will determine whether further steps are warranted while Summers remains on leave.