FOLLOW US

Larry Summers has announced that he will retire from his remaining academic roles at Harvard University following renewed public attention surrounding his communications with convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Harvard officials confirmed that Summers will step down at the end of the academic year while remaining on leave until his retirement becomes effective. In a written statement, Summers said the decision was personal and difficult, emphasizing his long association with the university and his appreciation for students and colleagues over several decades.

Summers, who had been affiliated with Harvard for approximately 50 years, held the prestigious position of Charles W. Eliot University Professor since leaving the university presidency in 2006. He also previously served as co-director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at Harvard’s Kennedy School.

The controversy surrounding Summers intensified after messages between him and Epstein were released as part of document disclosures from Epstein’s estate. The communications showed ongoing contact even after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea to prostitution-related charges in Florida, although Summers has never been charged with any criminal wrongdoing.

Epstein, who later faced federal sex trafficking charges, died in 2019 while in custody at a federal detention facility in New York. Authorities and investigative bodies have continued releasing documents related to the case in recent years, leading to renewed scrutiny of individuals associated with him.

Summers previously reduced his public professional commitments in 2025 after the messages were made public. He also resigned from several external advisory and board positions, including roles with major media and technology organizations.

Summers’ academic career spans multiple U.S. administrations. He served as U.S. Treasury Secretary during the presidency of Bill Clinton from 1999 to 2001. Later, he became director of the National Economic Council under Barack Obama between 2009 and 2011.

In his statement, Summers said he planned to focus more on research, economic analysis, and commentary on global financial issues after retirement. Harvard did not announce a replacement for his professorship.

The university reiterated that Summers has not been accused of misconduct. Officials stated that academic and administrative reviews conducted in response to the Epstein document releases did not establish violations of university policy.