Larry Summers Exits Harvard as Epstein Scandal Lingers

Larry Summers will leave Harvard University at the end of this academic year. He is stepping down from his roles as a professor and a special advisor. His departure comes as the school faces continued questions about its ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein was a convicted sex offender. Summers was a major figure at Harvard for decades. He served as its president from 2001 to 2006. Recently, he acted as an advisor to the current president. A university report in 2023 detailed how Harvard's leaders, including Summers, had maintained contacts with Epstein after his 2008 conviction. Summers has said his interactions were limited to fundraising advice. Harvard has not linked his exit directly to the Epstein scandal. Summers stated he plans to focus on writing, public speaking, and his economic research. The university thanked him for his long service.