OpenAI board member Larry Summers resigns as Epstein links revealed
The recent release of emails from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate by the House Oversight Committee has stirred significant controversy, leading to the resignation of economist Larry Summers from the board of OpenAI. Summers, who previously served as Treasury Secretary under President Bill Clinton and was the president of Harvard University, stepped down amid revelations regarding his long-standing association with Epstein. In a statement to Axios, Summers acknowledged his decision to resign, citing his intent to distance himself from public commitments in light of the new findings. He expressed gratitude for his time at OpenAI and an eagerness to follow the company’s future developments while continuing his role as a Professor of Economics at Harvard.
The emails unveiled shocking details about Summers’ interactions with Epstein that persisted even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Notably, Summers sought Epstein’s advice on personal matters, including pursuing a romantic relationship outside his marriage, and referred to Epstein as his “wing man” in these discussions. The correspondence, which included numerous sexist remarks, paints a troubling picture of their relationship and has raised questions about Summers’ judgment. His last communication with Epstein occurred just a day before Epstein’s arrest in July 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking minors. This connection has brought renewed scrutiny to Summers, particularly regarding his past acceptance of substantial donations from Epstein during his presidency at Harvard, where Epstein was controversially granted a personal office. The unfolding situation underscores the broader implications of Epstein’s network and the accountability of those associated with him.
As Congress considers the potential release of additional Epstein files, the ramifications of these revelations extend beyond individual resignations. They highlight the pervasive influence of Epstein’s connections within elite circles and the ethical responsibilities of those who engaged with him. The fallout from this document dump serves as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in both public and private sectors, particularly in the context of powerful figures and their associations. As the story develops, it will be crucial to monitor how these revelations impact the individuals involved and the institutions they represent.
As Congress looks to maybe, potentially, finally
release the Epstein files
, an email document dump from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate
released
last week by the House Oversight Committee has already delivered some shocking revelations.
And those emails have already led to at least one high-profile resignation at one of the biggest tech companies in the world.Â
Economist Larry Summers, a former Treasury secretary under the Clinton administration and a former president of Harvard, has resigned from OpenAI’s board, according to statements provided by Summers and the company to
Axios
. Summers had previously acknowledged he’d be
stepping away
from all public commitments in light of the Epstein document release.
“In line with my announcement to step away from my public commitments, I have also decided to resign from the board of OpenAI,” Summers said in a statement provided to Axios. “I am grateful for the opportunity to have served, excited about the potential of the company and look forward to following their progress.”
Despite Summers’ statements, he plans to
continue teaching
at Harvard, where he currently works as a Professor of Economics, Axios also reported.
“Larry has decided to resign from the OpenAI Board of Directors, and we respect his decision,” OpenAI’s board said in its own statement. “We appreciate his many contributions and the perspective he brought to the Board.”
Summers’ ties to Epstein have
long been known
. During Summers’ tenure as President of Harvard, Epstein donated tens of millions of dollars to the university. Epstein was even given his own personal office at the school during this time. Flight records released during the 2021 trial of Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell showed that Summers had previously flown on Epstein’s private plane, according to the
Harvard Crimson
.
However, the
newly released email documents
revealed that Summers’ association with Epstein continued well after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. In emails from 2018 and 2019, Summers reached out to Epstein seeking advice on pursuing a relationship outside of his marriage with a woman he described as a “mentee.” In the emails, Epstein referred to himself as Summers’ “wing man.” In addition to the conversations on romantic relationships, Summers also made numerous sexist comments.
Summers’ final correspondence with Epstein in the email documents occurred on July 5, 2019 — just one day before Epstein was arrested and federally
charged for the sex trafficking of minors
.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.
