Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers—also a former president of Harvard University and one of America’s most recognizable economists—has resigned from the OpenAI board amid intensifying fallout from newly released email exchanges between him and the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The disclosures, which include more than 20,000 emails provided by Epstein’s estate to the House Oversight Committee, are fueling political uproar, institutional distancing, and a widening set of inquiries—most notably from Harvard University itself.
As further correspondence becomes public, Summers has withdrawn from multiple high-profile roles, issued statements expressing “deep shame,” and is facing renewed scrutiny over his longstanding public influence.
On Wednesday, Nov. 19, Summers released a statement announcing his decision to resign from the OpenAI board.
“Consistent with my earlier decision to step back from public activities, I have decided to resign from the OpenAI board,”
he wrote.
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OpenAI said it respected his decision and thanked him for his service.
Summers’ departure from OpenAI follows a string of separations from other institutions:
- The Center for American Progress confirmed he would end his role as a senior fellow.
- The Yale Budget Lab stated that Summers was no longer part of its advisory committee.
On Monday, Summers said he felt “deep shame” over his communications with Epstein and would step back from all public-facing work.
Epstein emails show extensive contact
Last week, the House Oversight Committee released tens of thousands of emails supplied by Epstein’s estate. Among these, some show that Summers and Epstein remained in contact even the day before Epstein’s 2019 arrest, suggesting a far more sustained relationship than previously understood.
In his statement, Summers acknowledged that continuing to communicate with Epstein had been a “misleading” and deeply regrettable mistake.
According to The Harvard Crimson, Harvard University has initiated a new internal review into all Harvard-affiliated individuals mentioned in the disclosed documents—including Summers, his wife, and roughly ten current or former Harvard scholars.
Harvard spokesperson Jonathan Swain confirmed: “The University is reviewing information related to Harvard-affiliated individuals identified in the recently released Jeffrey Epstein documents to determine whether any action is required.”
Summers, long considered a central figure in Democratic economic policymaking, served as Treasury Secretary under President Bill Clinton and later chaired the National Economic Council under President Barack Obama. He served as Harvard’s president from 2001 to 2006 and remains a faculty member.
The newly released documents contain an unexpected revelation: Summers sought Epstein’s personal advice on how to pursue a romantic interest—identified as Chinese economist Keyu Jin, daughter of former Chinese finance minister and inaugural AIIB president Jin Liqun.
According to The Harvard Crimson, between November 2018 and July 5, 2019, Summers repeatedly emailed Epstein asking for guidance on how to approach a woman he referred to as his “protégé.” Some messages indicate the individual was Keyu Jin.
Who Is Keyu Jin?
- 43 years old
- Graduated from Harvard College (2000) and Harvard Economics Ph.D. program (2009)
- Tenured professor at the London School of Economics during the Summers–Epstein correspondence
Summers regularly updated Epstein on his interactions with Jin and even forwarded her emails to Epstein. The exchanges continued until the day before Epstein’s federal arrest in 2019.
In one forwarded email, Jin thanked Summers for supporting both her and her father. Summers explained to Epstein that, during a recent conversation with Jin Liqun, he had offered complimentary remarks—adding that “other Chinese officials” had done likewise.
Jin declined to comment on the extended email exchanges when contacted by The Harvard Crimson.
Congress advances new legislation to force Epstein file transparency
On Tuesday, the Senate voted unanimously to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act, requiring the Department of Justice to release additional Epstein-related records. The bill had already passed the House by an overwhelming 427–1 vote.
The legislation:
- Was introduced by Democrat Ro Khanna
- Co-sponsored by Republican Thomas Massie
- Will be sent to President Donald Trump for signature
Under the act, the DOJ must release all non-classified Epstein documents—emails, communications, investigative notes, and related records—within 30 days, in a searchable format.
The bill expressly forbids delaying or redacting information for political or reputational reasons.
However, some materials may be withheld if they:
- expose victim identities
- contain child sexual exploitation
- jeopardize ongoing investigations
- include graphic images of injury or death
Every redaction must include a written justification and be published in the Federal Register.
Within 15 days of the document release, the Attorney General must provide Congress with:
- a list of released and withheld materials
- summaries of redactions and related legal justifications
- a complete list of government officials and public figures named in the documents (unredacted)
Trump urges full disclosure: ‘We have nothing to hide’
Before the House vote, President Trump publicly pressed Republicans to support the release of the files.
On Truth Social, he wrote:
“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files because we have nothing to hide. It’s time to move past this Democrat hoax manufactured by radical left lunatics.”
On Nov. 17, speaking from the Oval Office, Trump told reporters he had “no ties whatsoever” to Epstein and insisted that Epstein’s associates were “all Democrats.”
He added that he did not want the Epstein controversy to overshadow the administration’s achievements on inflation, energy, and foreign policy—hence his support for full disclosure.
Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to charges involving the solicitation of minors for prostitution and served time in a Florida jail. He was a registered sex offender.
In 2019, after being arrested on federal sex-trafficking conspiracy charges, Epstein died in jail in an incident officially ruled as suicide—a conclusion that continues to draw public skepticism.
