Harvard University announced on Wednesday the resignation of former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers from his academic positions following revelations about his communications with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The prestigious institution confirmed Summers would step down from his role as co-director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government immediately and completely sever ties with the university by the end of the academic year.
The development comes amid ongoing scrutiny of elite academic and political figures connected to Epstein, whose extensive network of powerful associates continues to generate consequences years after his death. Summers, who served as Treasury chief under President Bill Clinton and later as Harvard president, had previously expressed regret about his communications with the financier in a viral video address to students.
According to university statements, Dean Jeremy Weinstein accepted Summers’ resignation from leadership positions while noting the professor would remain on leave until his complete departure. The resignation marks the second major Epstein-related departure from Harvard following former president Lawrence Bacow’s earlier exit.
Court documents unsealed by the Department of Justice revealed extensive communications between Summers and Epstein, prompting the economist to previously step back from public commitments in November 2025. At that time, Summers acknowledged his ‘misguided decision’ to maintain contact with Epstein and accepted full responsibility.
The Epstein case continues to reverberate through elite circles, with numerous prominent figures facing reputation damage from associations with the financier. Harvard disclosed Epstein had donated $9.1 million to the university between 1998 and 2008, though the institution maintains these funds were properly used for research purposes.
While mere mention in the Epstein documents doesn’t imply wrongdoing, the released materials have established connections between Epstein and various public figures who previously minimized or denied such relationships. The case represents one of the most extensive reckonings for elite institutions regarding their associations with controversial donors.