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.
