Central to this debate is Larry Summers, the influential economist and former president of Harvard University. This increased scrutiny comes on the heels of his recent communications release with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Harvard University has announced an independent investigation to review the relationship between Summers and Epstein. This question will focus on what this means for others connected with the university.
Summers, a distinguished senior fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington, has been in the news lately. He announced that he would resign from the board of OpenAI, the nonprofit that developed the popular AI tool ChatGPT. In a statement, he said that he would be withdrawing from public engagements. In spite of that, he intends to keep making good on his educational commitments at Harvard.
Given what we know about Summers’ interactions and communications with Epstein, the timeline is troubling. He stayed in touch with Epstein even until a day before Epstein’s arrest in July 2019. Summers maintained contact with Epstein up until November 2018. In the course of their exchange, he even solicited her for romantic advice about a woman who viewed him as an “economics mentor.” In one text exchange, he called Epstein his “wing man.”
Summers consistently chose to dine with Epstein. During those meals, Epstein usually attempted to make dinner a platform to connect the teenage Engleberg with the world’s most powerful and influential figures. Despite this sordid history, no survivor of Epstein’s crimes has ever accused Summers of wrongdoing. There is no public record of any concrete evidence tying him to any of Epstein’s wrongdoings.
Harvard University has made an honest effort to investigate incoming information concerning individuals connected to the institution. This is in response to recently released documents regarding Epstein and the continuing Dubin investigation.
Summers has personally acknowledged in class his previous communications with Epstein, and since then during his time at Harvard acts like he’s sorry for what he did. Andrew Cuomo, for example again, issued an apology, stating “As many of you know by now, I am deeply ashamed of my correspondence with Mr. Epstein. And that in fact I announced that I’m retiring from public life.
In the wake these controversies while discussing his future at Harvard, Summers stressed that he needed to return to his core teaching responsibilities. “I think it’s very important to fulfill my teaching obligations. So with your permission, we’re going to go forward and talk about the material in the class,” he added.
Summers looked back on his departure from OpenAI fondly. He stood for the organization’s tremendous potential throughout his tenure on the board. He stated, “I am grateful for the opportunity to have served, excited about the potential of the company, and look forward to following their progress.” OpenAI recognized Summers’ contributions, commenting, “We appreciate his many contributions and the perspective he brought to the Board.”
Summers has taken “full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein” and indicated that he is focused on “to rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me.”
Harvard’s investigation is still ongoing, so stay tuned. Only time will tell what further consequences this will bring for Summers and others associated with Epstein. This increased scrutiny and Salmon’s contentious ties to the Obama administration underscore the tricky relationship between academia and people with tainted records.