Former Harvard University President Larry Summers has taken a leave of absence from his role as director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government and will not teach next semester, following the release of emails showing he maintained contact with Jeffrey Epstein until 2019. The emails were made public by the House Oversight Committee, prompting renewed scrutiny of Summers’ past associations.
According to reports, Summers informed students that he feels regret over the communications and is stepping back from public-facing activities. While he plans to complete his current teaching responsibilities, remaining class sessions will be covered by other faculty members. Harvard has said it is reviewing the matter internally.
In addition to his leave from Harvard, Summers has resigned from several prominent boards and advisory roles, including positions at OpenAI, the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the Center for Global Development, and The Hamilton Project. He has also ended his contributing roles with major media outlets. A spokesperson said Summers believed stepping aside was in the best interest of the institutions involved while reviews are conducted.
In a recorded message shared with students, Summers said he felt shame over his continued communication with Epstein and explained that his decision was intended to allow him to focus on personal reflection while meeting existing obligations. In a separate written statement, Summers said he takes responsibility for his actions and is stepping back from public commitments as part of an effort to rebuild trust.
The emails released by the committee included personal and professional exchanges that have drawn criticism and raised broader questions about judgment and boundaries among public figures. Summers has not been accused of criminal conduct, and he has said he regrets maintaining the correspondence. The situation has renewed debate over accountability and transparency for leaders in academic and policy institutions.