Larry Summers Resigns from OpenAI Board After Epstein File Revelations

Larry Summers Resigns from OpenAI Board Amidst Epstein Email Release

Larry Summers, a former U.S. Treasury Secretary, has stepped down from his position on OpenAI’s board of directors. This decision follows the release of numerous emails by Congress, revealing his interactions with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.

Details of the Released Emails

The released documents contain details regarding Summers’ personal life, specifically intimate relationships. He currently holds a professorship and previously served as president of Harvard University.

Harvard University to Investigate

In response to the revelations, Harvard University has announced it will initiate an internal investigation into Summers’ associations with Epstein. The Harvard Crimson, the university’s student newspaper, first reported this development.

Congressional Release of Epstein Files

Summers’ departure occurred just after both the House and Senate authorized the public release of the Epstein files. A House panel had previously disseminated years of email correspondence between Epstein and Summers.

Concerning Email Exchanges

Among the released emails is one where Summers sought Epstein’s counsel on pursuing a relationship with a woman he identified as a mentee. These exchanges spanned from November 2018 to July 2019.

Acknowledging a Power Dynamic

The correspondence indicates that Summers was aware of the power imbalance inherent in his relationship with the woman he was mentoring, particularly as he was married at the time. He appeared to recognize the potential for confusion on her part.

Direct Quotes from the Emails

In a March 2019 email, Summers expressed, “She must be very confused or maybe wants to cut me off but wants professional connection a lot and so holds to it.” Epstein, positioning himself as a confidant, responded in June 2019 with, “She is doomed to be with you.”

Strategies for Pursuing a Relationship

Later messages reveal Summers’ belief that his mentee would be more receptive if she perceived him as “invaluable and interesting,” suggesting a connection between professional dependence and romantic interest. He believed that “she can’t have it without romance/sex.” Epstein consistently advised a patient approach, advocating for maintaining the woman in a state of “forced holding pattern.”

Epstein's Arrest and Charges

Jeffrey Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on charges of sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. These charges ultimately led to his conviction.