Larry Summers, the former president of Harvard University, announced plans to withdraw from public commitments after his correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein was made public. In a statement, Summers expressed shame over his actions and acknowledged the distress they have caused, taking full responsibility for his decision to maintain communication with Epstein. The emails released by Congress indicated that Summers corresponded with Epstein up until the day before Epstein’s 2019 arrest on charges of sex trafficking minors.
This development follows the U.S. Department of Justice’s announcement of an investigation into Epstein’s connections with former President Bill Clinton and other notable Democrats, prompted by calls from former President Donald Trump. Trump asserted via social media that Epstein was a Democrat and suggested that the issue lies with the Democratic Party. Clinton has denied any prior knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities.
Summers, who served as treasury secretary under Clinton and held roles in the National Economic Council under President Barack Obama, expressed a desire to rebuild trust in his personal relationships while continuing to fulfill his teaching obligations at Harvard. He is no longer affiliated with the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank where he was a senior fellow.
The released emails suggest that Summers and Epstein met frequently, with Epstein attempting to introduce Summers to influential global figures. Notably, in July 2018, Epstein suggested a meeting with an official from the United Nations. In communication following Trump’s election in 2016, Summers advised Epstein to avoid any mention of him to Trump due to concerns about the latter’s potential conflicts of interest.
Summers’ representatives stated he regrets his continued contact with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction for soliciting an underage prostitute. A review of the emails indicates numerous mentions of Trump, though he did not directly communicate about Epstein. While Trump claims to have distanced himself from Epstein, he acknowledges their past friendship.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cddr199d3z0o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss