Larry Summers Steps Back Amid Epstein Investigation

Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers announced on Monday that he will be withdrawing from all public obligations. This decision comes shortly after President Donald Trump instructed the Justice Department to investigate the connections of Summers and other prominent Democrats to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Summers, a professor at Harvard University and its former president, expressed his intention to step back in order to mend relationships and regain trust with those closest to him. The move follows the recent release of numerous files pertaining to Epstein by the U.S. House Oversight Committee, which included correspondence between Summers and Epstein. Summers acknowledged his regret over his actions and took full responsibility for maintaining communication with Epstein, stating his commitment to fulfilling teaching duties while scaling back on public commitments as part of his broader efforts. Summers, a member of the Democratic Party, previously served as treasury secretary for President Bill Clinton and led the National Economic Council during President Barack Obama’s tenure. He currently holds positions on the board of OpenAI and as a director at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government. Both OpenAI and Harvard have yet to comment on the matter, and Summers has not responded to requests for statements. The Epstein controversy has been a persistent issue for Trump, who has faced criticism for promoting conspiracy theories about Epstein. Allegations have surfaced suggesting cover-ups by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and other Trump administration officials regarding Epstein’s connections to influential individuals and the circumstances surrounding his suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019. The House of Representatives is set to vote on Tuesday to compel the release of investigative files related to Epstein, after Trump initially opposed the move but later urged Republican support for the release.