Key Points
- Larry Summers resigned from OpenAI’s board after a congressional release of Epstein‑related emails.
- The email cache showed Summers seeking advice from Epstein about a relationship with a woman he called a mentee.
- Summers was married at the time and acknowledged a power imbalance in the communications.
- Both the House and Senate voted to make the Epstein files public, intensifying scrutiny.
- Harvard University opened an investigation into Summers’ connections with Epstein.
- Summers also announced a withdrawal from other public commitments.
- The incident highlights governance concerns for tech company boards.
- The revelations are part of the broader fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Background
Larry Summers, a former Treasury Secretary, former Harvard University president, and current professor, joined the board of artificial‑intelligence firm OpenAI. His appointment was seen as a boost to the company’s credibility given his extensive experience in government and academia.
Epstein Email Release
Congressional committees released a large cache of emails and texts that documented private exchanges between Epstein and Summers. The material covered a period from late 2018 through mid‑2019 and included messages in which Summers asked Epstein for guidance on pursuing a relationship with a woman he referred to as a mentee. At the time, Summers was married and acknowledged his position of power over the woman.
In the correspondence, Epstein described himself as Summers’ “wing man” and sent messages suggesting the woman was “doomed to be with you.” Summers wrote about strategies to make the woman consider a sexual relationship, noting that she might be more receptive if she found him “invaluable and interesting.”
Summers’ Board Departure
Following the public release of the emails, Summers announced his resignation from OpenAI’s board. The decision came a day after both the House and the Senate voted to release the Epstein files, intensifying public and media scrutiny. In stepping down, Summers also indicated he would pull back from other public commitments.
Harvard Investigation
Harvard University, where Summers holds a faculty position, launched its own investigation into his connections with Epstein. The university’s student newspaper reported that the probe would examine the nature of the communications and any potential ethical breaches.
Implications
The episode has raised questions about governance and vetting processes for board members at high‑profile technology firms. It also underscores the broader fallout from the Epstein scandal, which continues to affect individuals across politics, academia, and industry. While Epstein was arrested in 2019 on charges of sex trafficking of minors, the newly released emails have revived scrutiny of those who maintained contact with him.
Source: techcrunch.com