Students settling into an ordinary lecture at Harvard found themselves witnessing something far more personal than an economics lesson.
Before diving into the day’s subject, Larry Summers paused, visibly carrying the weight of a growing controversy that has placed him back in national headlines.
Summers Breaks the Ice With an Admission
At the start of his American economic policy course, the 70-year-old former U.S. Treasury Secretary openly acknowledged the uproar surrounding his past communications with Jeffrey Epstein.
Speaking plainly, he reminded the class that many had likely seen his public apology and his expression of shame over the messages he exchanged with the disgraced financier.
He told students that he planned to withdraw from public engagements for a while, but emphasized that continuing to teach remained important to him.
With that, he asked for the class’s understanding as he proceeded with the lesson.
A Viral Video Adds More Fuel
A short TikTok clip recorded inside the lecture hall quickly spread online, amplifying the situation.
Its caption accused Summers of seeking inappropriate guidance from Epstein involving a younger woman — language that many viewers found disturbing.
The renewed attention came just as congressional investigators released a collection of emails detailing years of personal back-and-forth between Summers and Epstein.
Emails That Raised Troubling Questions
The messages, sent between 2013 and 2019, reveal conversations that mixed political chatter with Summers’ personal frustrations about his romantic pursuits — all long after Epstein’s 2008 conviction and after Harvard had severed its financial relationship with him.
In several instances, Summers leaned on Epstein for opinions about how to respond to women he was courting, despite being married at the time.
One message showed Summers lamenting that he felt like “a friend without benefits,” while another saw him mapping out his interactions almost like an economist analyzing returns on an investment.
Epstein, in turn, referred to himself jokingly — or disturbingly — as Summers’ “wingman.”
Harvard Steps In as the Pressure Mounts
The revelations prompted Harvard to open a formal review into Summers’ ties to Epstein.
The scrutiny has also sparked political reactions: Senator Elizabeth Warren publicly urged the university to distance itself from Summers entirely, arguing that his decisions around Epstein raise serious concerns for someone working directly with young adults.
The personal implications remain murky.
Summers has been married to Harvard literature professor emerita Elisa New for two decades, though the emails have left outsiders speculating about the boundaries of their relationship.
Older Messages Reveal Even More Undignified Exchanges
Some of the emails paint an unflattering picture of how Summers navigated conversations with women.
In one exchange, he forwarded a message from a woman to Epstein and asked for advice on what to say in return.
Epstein’s feedback — implying the woman sounded “needy” — was met with continued discussion from Summers.
Other earlier communications show Summers venting about the shifting rules around men approaching women, telling Epstein he feared men could soon be ostracized from social or professional spaces because of past flirtatious behavior.
Summers Expresses Regret, Again
In comments to the Harvard Crimson, Summers reiterated that maintaining ties with Epstein had been one of the biggest mistakes of his career.
The fallout has already reached beyond Harvard: earlier this week, he chose to leave the board of OpenAI, where he had been serving during a turbulent period for the company.
OpenAI publicly acknowledged his decision and thanked him for his service, making clear the move was voluntary.
What Comes After the Apology?
Summers now finds himself juggling student reactions, public criticism, political scrutiny, and an institutional investigation — all while trying to remain present in the classroom.
With new details continuing to emerge, attention is shifting toward how Harvard will respond and whether this controversy marks a permanent turning point in Summers’ long public life.
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