Overview
- OpenAI confirmed Summers’s departure, thanking him for his contributions and saying it respects his decision to leave the board.
- The disclosed messages show Summers sought advice from Jeffrey Epstein in 2018–2019 about a woman he described as a mentee, with Epstein calling himself a “wing man” and urging manipulative tactics; the two corresponded as late as July 5, 2019.
- Harvard said it is reviewing information on individuals named in the newly released documents to determine what actions may be warranted, while Summers will continue teaching.
- Summers apologized, said he is deeply ashamed, and announced he is stepping back from public commitments as other organizations moved to sever or pause ties with him.
- The resignation follows congressional action to release Epstein-related files under a transparency push, spurring fresh scrutiny and political calls for further disclosures and investigations.