Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers resigned from OpenAI’s board on Wednesday, days after newly released emails revealed years of personal correspondence with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Harvard economist and prominent economic figure stepped back from multiple high-profile positions, including roles at Bloomberg News, The New York Times, and major think tanks.
His departure marks the latest domino to fall in the widening scandal triggered by Epstein document releases from the House Oversight Committee.
The move represents one of the most dramatic public downfalls for an American economic leader in recent memory.
The emails, released last week, showed Summers maintained regular contact with Epstein through mid-2019, well after Epstein pleaded guilty to prostitution charges and just days before his arrest on federal sex trafficking charges.
Messages revealed Summers seeking Epstein’s advice on a romantic relationship, with Epstein referring to himself as Summers’ “wing man.”
The economist also made sexist comments in the correspondence.
While there is no evidence of illegal conduct by Summers, the revelation sparked immediate backlash and calls for his removal from influential positions, including from Senator Elizabeth Warren.
The scandal exposed years of judgment lapses by someone entrusted with steering major institutions.
From OpenAI board to full retreat: The cascade effect
Summers’ OpenAI departure was part of a broader strategic withdrawal from public life.
He announced Monday he was stepping back “to rebuild trust and repair relationships,” expressing deep shame over his continued communications with Epstein.
Within days, he departed from the Yale Budget Lab, the Center for American Progress, and his New York Times contributing writer role.
Bloomberg News later declined to comment on his future at the outlet.
Summers maintains his teaching positions at Harvard and directorship at the Kennedy School’s business and government center, but his prominent voice in public policy discourse has effectively been silenced.
Former allies distanced themselves quickly, signaling institutional abandonment.
What this means for OpenAI and Summers’ legacy
OpenAI acknowledged Summers’ departure with a respectful statement, saying the board “appreciates his many contributions.”
Summers joined the OpenAI board in 2023, just as the company navigated internal turmoil around CEO Sam Altman’s ousting and reinstatement.
His exit removes an influential economic thinker from AI governance at a critical moment when the sector faces mounting scrutiny over leadership integrity and accountability.
The resignation also signals how swiftly reputational damage can upend even the most accomplished careers. Summers, who served as Clinton’s Treasury Secretary and Obama’s chief economic adviser, saw his credibility evaporate within days of the Epstein revelations.
The Justice Department has opened an investigation into Epstein’s relationships with prominent figures, potentially widening the fallout.
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