Larry Summers Takes Leave from Harvard Over Epstein Emails
Larry Summers Steps Away from Harvard Amid Epstein Email Probe
- Former Harvard president and U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers has taken a leave from teaching.
- Move follows release of emails with Jeffrey Epstein from 2013–2019, published by the House Oversight Committee.
- Harvard confirmed receipt of the leave notice as it reviews Summers’ ties and related communications.
- Other instructors will complete the remaining sessions; Summers is not scheduled to teach next semester.
What happened
Larry Summers, the former president of Harvard University and former Treasury Secretary, has taken a leave of absence from his teaching duties at Harvard. The decision comes after email correspondence between Summers and the late financier Jeffrey Epstein surfaced in files released by the House Oversight Committee.
The emails, dated from 2013 to 2019, include an exchange in which Epstein described himself as Summers’ “wing man.”
“Wing man.”
— language used by Jeffrey Epstein in an email exchange referenced in the released files
Harvard’s response
Harvard University confirmed it received notice of Summers’ decision to take leave. The university’s review is focused on clarifying his connections to Epstein following the renewed attention to Epstein’s communications this week.
According to a spokesperson, Summers believes stepping away is in the best interest of the Center he directs while the review is underway. Other instructors will complete the remaining three sessions of the courses he was teaching, and he is not scheduled to teach in the upcoming semester.
Timeline and context
• 2013–2019: Emails between Summers and Epstein are exchanged.
• This week: The House Oversight Committee publishes Epstein-related files that include those exchanges.
The release has renewed scrutiny of Epstein’s interactions with prominent figures and prompted Harvard’s review of Summers’ communications and connections.
What’s next
Summers remains on leave while Harvard conducts its review. Instruction for the affected courses will continue under other faculty for the remaining sessions, with no current plans for Summers to teach next semester.
Reporting note: This article is based on Harvard’s confirmation of receipt of Summers’ leave notice, public statements from a spokesperson, and documents published by the House Oversight Committee.
