Lawrence Summers, the former U.S. Treasury Secretary, has announced his retirement from Harvard University following the release of controversial emails between him and Jeffrey Epstein by the U.S. Department of Justice. Harvard confirmed that Summers would remain on leave until the end of the academic year in May before officially retiring from his professorial and other roles. A spokesperson cited an ongoing internal investigation related to Epstein’s documents, which have sparked significant public scrutiny.

The emails in question revealed Summers’ interactions with Epstein from at least 2012 until just one day before Epstein’s arrest in July 2019, where Summers sought advice not only on political and economic matters but also on his personal relationships. Notably, communications from 2018-2019 indicated Summers soliciting Epstein's counsel regarding an economics student he was mentoring, with Epstein alluding to himself as Summers' 'wingman,' adding a layer of controversy to their relationship.

Despite the inquiry into his actions, Summers has not faced any criminal charges or direct allegations of involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities. After public outcry over his past communications, Summers expressed deep regret for his continued connection with Epstein and has distanced himself from various public roles, including resigning from the board of the AI company OpenAI and being permanently expelled from the American Economic Association. His departure marks a significant moment given his lengthy tenure at Harvard since 1975, highlighting the lasting impacts of associations with individuals involved in illegal activities on public figures' careers.