Harvard University has initiated a fresh investigation into former president Larry Summers regarding his connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, coinciding with Summers' resignation from the board of artificial intelligence giant OpenAI.
New Scrutiny Following Document Release
The prestigious Ivy League institution confirmed through spokesperson Jonathan Swain that a comprehensive review is underway examining information concerning individuals at Harvard named in the recently released Jeffrey Epstein documents. The probe will assess what actions may be warranted regarding Summers and nearly a dozen other university affiliates, including Summers' wife, English professor Elisa New.
This development comes nearly a week after a congressional oversight committee published approximately 23,000 documents relating to Epstein, revealing correspondence with numerous public figures. Among those named were Harvard Law School professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz and Professor New.
Board Resignations and Public Withdrawal
In a separate announcement, OpenAI confirmed that Summers had resigned from its board of directors, with the company stating they respect his decision. This marks the latest in a series of high-profile departures for Summers, who has also recently left positions at Bloomberg, the New York Times, and the Center for American Progress thinktank.
The former treasury secretary under Bill Clinton announced on Monday that he would be stepping back from public engagements, stating: "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."
Revealing Email Exchanges
The newly uncovered correspondence shows Summers apparently seeking relationship advice from the disgraced financier regarding a woman he described as his mentee. In one particularly revealing 2018 message, Epstein described himself as Summers' "wing man" in these romantic pursuits.
Additional emails show Professor New discussing her projects with Epstein and soliciting financial support, including a potential $500,000 donation to Poetry in America, a television show and digital initiative she oversees. In a December 2015 message, she wrote: "It really means a lot to me, all financial help aside, Jeffrey, that you are rooting for me and thinking about me."
This latest investigation follows Harvard's previous examination of university ties to Epstein, which found the financier had donated approximately $9 million to Harvard between 1998 and 2008. The initial probe was launched after Epstein's death in a New York jail cell in 2019, with then-president Lawrence Bacow expressing that Harvard "profoundly regrets" its past association with him.
