Former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers has announced he will step down from the OpenAI board and cease teaching at Harvard University after emails linking him to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were released by Congress.
The correspondence, which showed Summers in regular communication with Epstein, prompted him to declare on Monday that he would be “stepping back” from public life.
“In line with my decision to step away from my public commitments, I have also decided to resign from the board of OpenAI,” Summers, who joined the AI company’s board in 2023, said in a statement to US media outlets, including CNN and The New York Times. “I am grateful for the opportunity to have served, excited about the potential of the company, and look forward to following their progress.”
AFP reached out to representatives for Summers and Harvard University for comment.
The renewed public scrutiny over Epstein has intensified in recent weeks, sparking tensions between lawmakers and former President Donald Trump, who was a longtime associate of the late financier.
On Wednesday, Trump signed legislation mandating the release of government documents relating to Epstein, reversing months of resistance to the disclosures.
Epstein, a wealthy financier, cultivated relationships with high-profile politicians, business leaders, academics, and celebrities, and was accused of trafficking underage girls for sexual exploitation.
His 2019 arrest on trafficking charges reignited public outrage and calls for a full accounting of his network and finances.
Trump has indicated that he intends to direct the Justice Department to investigate certain Democratic political figures, including Summers, over their connections to Epstein.
Summers has expressed that he is “ashamed” of his communications with Epstein but denies any wrongdoing.
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