Last week, The New York Times announced that it would not be renewing Lawrence Summers’ contract as a contributing writer for its Opinion section. His contract was to begin in January 2025. This decision comes on the heels of shocking new revelations about Summers’ extensive correspondence with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Despite Epstein’s long history of sexual misconduct and sex trafficking allegations, he was granted the favor.
Summers was President Bill Clinton’s United States Treasury Secretary from 1999-2001. He has come under fire for his decades long relationship with Epstein. As recently as 2021, reports indicated that Summers was never out of Epstein’s orbit. This lasted all the way until just one day before Epstein’s arrest on sex-trafficking charges in July 2019. In 2008, Epstein had recessed charges of soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. Still, Summers did turn to him for advice on personal matters — such as how to talk to women.
In a trove of leaked emails, Summers openly and enthusiastically discussed various romantic engagements with Epstein. He did refer to one woman as “peril.” In one exchange, he remarked, “I said what are you up to. She said ‘I’m busy’. I said awfully coy u are.” Epstein, for his part, responded by offering advice that revealed a deeply disturbing and unhealthy code-reliance between the two men.
The New York Times has publicly stated that it will not renew Summers’ contract due to the implications of his past interactions with Epstein. A spokesperson for the publication indicated that the decision aligns with the company’s commitment to uphold journalistic integrity and ethical standards.
Summers has recently joined OpenAI’s board of directors in November 2023. Following the release of thousands of files by House Republicans detailing his relationship with Epstein, he announced he would step back from public commitments. He expressed a desire to “rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me.”
In a statement acknowledging his past interactions with Epstein, Summers stated, “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.” This meaningful admission is an indication that he has understood that his associations go beyond personal friendships but have more significant implications.
The ripple effects from these disclosures have gone well beyond the pages of The New York Times. Former President Donald Trump has called for an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI into Summers’ involvement with Epstein, further amplifying public scrutiny.