Larry Summers, former Treasury secretary under President Bill Clinton and former president of Harvard University, has resigned from the board of directors of technology company OpenAI, according to statements released Wednesday.
“Larry has decided to resign from the OpenAI board of directors and we respect his decision. We appreciate his many contributions and the perspective he brought to the board,” read a statement from the OpenAI board of directors.
Summers’ resignation came just two days after he issued a statement saying he was “deeply ashamed” of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Summers’ email exchanges with Epstein were released last week by the House Oversight Committee.
Larry Summers, former president of Harvard University, photographed in Sun Valley, Idaho, on July 9, 2025.
Bloomberg via Getty Images
No Epstein survivor has alleged wrongdoing on Summers’ part, and there is no evidence in public records to suggest Summers was involved in any of Epstein’s crimes.
“In line with my announcement to step away from my public commitments, I have also decided to resign from the OpenAI board of directors,” said a statement from Larry Summers. “I am grateful for the opportunity to have served, excited about the company’s potential and look forward to following its progress.”
Jeffrey Epstein in this booking photo from 2019.
Cyprus
Larry Summers previously announced that he would step back from public life after his apparent communications with Epstein became public.
Summers is currently a member of the Harvard faculty, according to the Harvard Crimson newspaper. But there have been calls, including from Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, for Harvard to sever ties with him.
Harvard plans to launch a new investigation into Summers and other people at Harvard who were associated with Epstein, a university spokesperson told ABC News on Wednesday.
“The University is conducting a review of information about Harvard individuals included in Jeffrey Epstein’s newly released documents to evaluate what actions may be justified,” Harvard said in a statement to ABC News.
The new research was first reported in the Crimson Harvard. the university reviewed his ties to Epstein five years ago, including donations he made to the university.
Harvard didn’t do it respond to questions about whether Summers’ teaching position at the university would be affected while the new investigation is ongoing.
“I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused. I take full responsibility for my mistaken decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein,” Summers said in a statement Monday.
He added: “While I continue to fulfill my teaching obligations, I will step back from public engagements as part of my broader effort to rebuild trust and repair relationships with those closest to me.”
It was previously reported that Summers maintained a relationship with Epstein for many years, particularly during Summers’ tenure as president of Harvard from 2001 to 2006.
Summers flew at least four times on Epstein’s plane, according to flight records made public during the Epstein litigation, and was Harvard’s top official during a time when the university received millions in gifts from Epstein.
All of those gifts were received before Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008 to charges of soliciting prostitution with a minor, according to the university’s review of his connections to Epstein.
The late financier was federally charged in July 2019 with sex trafficking and conspiracy and died by suicide the following month.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
