What Happened
Harvard professor and former university president Larry Summers is set to leave the institution amid ongoing scrutiny regarding his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. A spokesperson from Harvard confirmed his retirement from academic and faculty appointments at the end of the current school year. Summers is also resigning from his leadership role at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Why It Matters
This decision follows an ongoing review by Harvard concerning documents related to Epstein that were recently released by the government. The university stated that Dean Jeremy Weinstein accepted Summers’ resignation from his position as co-director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government in light of these developments. Summers had previously taken a leave of absence after emails surfaced that indicated a close friendship with Epstein, during which Summers sought personal advice from the convicted sex offender.
What’s Next
In a statement regarding his departure, Summers expressed gratitude for his time at Harvard, stating, “I have made the difficult decision to retire from my Harvard professorship at the end of this academic year.” He emphasized his appreciation for the thousands of students and colleagues he has worked with over the past 50 years.