Larry Summers admits feeling ‘shame’ over Jeffrey Epstein emails during Harvard lecture

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS: Economics professor and former Harvard University president Larry Summers openly admitted that he feels “shame” over his communications with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein while addressing his students in a Harvard classroom. 

His remarks came days after a House committee released emails revealing years of personal correspondence between him and Epstein. 

Larry Summers addresses Jeffrey Epstein emails during Harvard lecture 

In a video recorded on Wednesday, November 19, by a student inside a Harvard lecture theater, Larry Summers opened his class by acknowledging his past.

He said, “Some of you will have seen my statement of regret, expressing my shame with respect to what I did in communication with Mr Epstein … I’m going to step back from public activity for a time. But it’s very important to fulfill my teaching obligations.” 

"So, with your permission, I'll talk about the material in the class,” he added, before beginning with the lesson.

Summers, who served as Harvard’s president from 2001 to 2006 and later held senior roles in former President Barack Obama's administration, has recently stepped away from some public responsibilities. He even resigned from the board of OpenAI in light of the controversy.

His other departures include roles at Bloomberg News, The New York Times, the Brookings Institution’s Hamilton Project, the Center for American Progress, the Peterson Institute for International Economics, and the Yale Budget Lab. 

Summers’ emails with Epstein sparked significant controversy, showing that their correspondence included discussions about Summers’ romantic interest in a former mentee. In a November 2018 message, Epstein even described himself as Summers' “wing man.”

The emails, sent between 2013 and 2019, show that their communication ended just one day before Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on new sex trafficking charges.

Harvard to investigate Larry Summers’ relationship with Epstein

Following the release of Larry Summers' communications with Jeffrey Epstein, Harvard announced an internal review into faculty members’ connections with the disgraced financier. 

University spokesperson Jonathan Swain told the Harvard Crimson, “The University is conducting a review of information concerning individuals at Harvard included in the newly released Jeffrey Epstein documents to evaluate what actions may be warranted.”

A Harvard spokesperson confirmed to the outlet that the university has opened a probe into Summers’ ties to Epstein. 

Other faculty named in the documents include Alan M Dershowitz and English professor emerita Elisa F New, who is married to Summers. 

In a public statement cited by the Harvard Crimson, Summers said he is “deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused” and “take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein.” 

Summers is among several Democratic figures named in the Epstein files, which include Justice Department investigation records and documents from Epstein’s estate.

Some other Democrats identified in the files are former President Bill Clinton, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, and LinkedIn founder and Democratic donor Reid Hoffman.

Harvard’s investigation follows a 2020 report detailing Epstein’s connections to the university.

The report revealed that Epstein donated approximately $9 million to Harvard between 1998 and 2008. In response, the university agreed to implement new guidelines for accepting potentially controversial donations.