Former Harvard president and current government and economics professor Larry Summers told students this week that he plans to continue teaching, even as newly released emails highlight his years-long correspondence with convicted s** offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Summers addressed the controversy on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the start of his introductory economics class, “The Political Economy of Globalization.” His remarks came shortly after a new batch of emails was published, suggesting he stayed in contact with Epstein for years — including up to the day before Epstein was arrested on federal s** trafficking charges in July 2019.
Although Summers has said he will step back from public-facing activities in light of the revelations, he told at least one class that he intends to remain in the classroom. According to Harvard’s course catalog, he is listed as teaching four courses this fall semester, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Video from his Tuesday morning lecture — supported by statements from two students to the Boston Globe — shows Summers beginning class by saying, “Some of you will have seen my statement of regret, expressing my shame with respect to what I did in communication with Mr. Epstein, and that I’ve said that I’m going to step back from public activity part time.
“But I think it’s very important to fulfill my teaching obligation,” he continued. “And so, with your permission, we’re going to go forward and talk about the material in the class.”
Later that day, Harvard announced it would launch a new investigation into Epstein’s connections with the university and its affiliates.
The Harvard Crimson recently detailed Summers’ email exchanges with Epstein, including messages in which Summers suggested that women were less intelligent than men and complained about cancel culture, writing: “Hit on a few women 10 years ago and [you] can’t work at a network or think tank.”
In another email, Summers sought romantic advice from Epstein about a woman he was pursuing.
“I dint [sic] want to be in a gift giving competition while being the friend without benefits,” he wrote, adding, “she must be very confused or maybe wants to cut me off but wants professional connection a lot and so holds to it.”
Epstein encouraged him to maintain a detached demeanor, saying that “no whining showed strength” and speculating that the woman was making Summers “pay for past errors.”
In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida to soliciting a person under 18 for prostitution and served part of his 13-month sentence on work release. In July 2019, he was arrested again, this time on federal s** trafficking charges involving girls as young as 14. A federal indictment unsealed at the time alleged that Epstein “s**ually exploited and abused dozens of minor girls at his homes.”
He was charged with one count of s** trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to engage in s** trafficking of minors and pleaded not guilty. Had he been convicted, he faced up to 45 years in prison. Instead, about a month after his arrest, he died by suicide in a New York City jail.
The renewed focus on Summers’ relationship with Epstein has prompted sharp criticism from prominent figures, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, who has urged Harvard to move more decisively to remove him from the classroom.
“Larry Summers has demonstrated that he cannot be trusted. Period. That includes no trust for the advice he gives or for teaching students anywhere,” Warren told the Boston Globe. “It’s not just about Harvard, it’s about any place. Larry Summers has demonstrated how unfit he is for positions of trust, and that applies to corporate boards, universities and policy makers.”
While Summers has indicated he will remain at Harvard for now, he did step down from his position on the board of OpenAI on Wednesday, Nov. 19.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to have served, excited about the potential of the company, and look forward to following their progress,” he said in a statement. “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.”
