Harvard opens investigation into former president Larry Summers' ties to Epstein
The academic institution said the investigation will look in detail at the conversations Summers and Epstein had through emails, which were revealed among the tens of thousands of pages of documents about Epstein released by the House of Representatives.
Former Harvard President Larry Summers in a file image.
Harvard University announced Wednesday it will open an investigation into its former president Larry Summers, in a fresh blow for the former Treasury secretary during the Democratic administration of former President Bill Clinton, who has been exposed for his ties to ex-financial tycoon and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The academic institution said the investigation will look in detail at the conversations Summers and Epstein had through e-mails, which were revealed among tens of thousands of pages of documents about Epstein released by the House Oversight Committee.
"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," University spokesman Jonathan Swain told the student newspaper The Harvard Crimson.
Politics
'I am deeply ashamed': Larry Summers steps back from public engagements after his emails with Epstein were leaked
Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón
Summers resigned from his position at OpenAI
Summers, who was also a top financial adviser to former Democratic President Barack Obama during his administration, maintained his friendship with Epstein even after he was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor and forced to register as a sex offender, according to disclosures in some of the emails.
Shortly after Harvard announced its investigation against Summers, the former university president announced that he would resign from the OpenAI board amid scrutiny over his connection to Epstein. "In line with my announcement to step away from my public commitments, I have also decided to resign from the board of OpenAI. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served, excited about the potential of the company, and look forward to following their progress," Summers said in a statement.
Summers announced Monday that he would step down from his public commitments, assuring that he would continue to teach at Harvard. "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," Summers said in a statement.
What did Summers and Epstein say to each other in the e-mails?
Similarly, in another moment that generated outrage, Summers suggested that, in general, women tend to have lower IQs than men.
Part of the messages between Summers and Epstein stretched into 2019, long after the former financial tycoon pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution-related charges and just a year after his child molestation was revealed.
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