Ex-US Treasury Chief Larry Summers Resigns From OpenAI Board After Emails With Epstein Surface

Last Updated:November 19, 2025, 19:25 IST

The emails revealed that Summers had maintained contact with Epstein long after the financier pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl

Former US Treasury secretary Larry Summers. (AFP file photo)

Former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers on Wednesday announced that he will resign from the board of the artificial intelligence company OpenAI days after he said he that he would be stepping back from “all public commitments".

The resignation comes following the public release of emails revealing his correspondence with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have served, excited about the potential of the company, and look forward to following their progress," Summers said in a statement to CNBC.

The emails between Summers and Epstein were made public last week after the US House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released over 20,000 documents obtained from Epstein’s estate.

The correspondence revealed that Summers had maintained contact with Epstein long after the financier pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl.

“I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognise the pain they have caused. I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr Epstein," Summers had said in a statement on Monday.

He added that stepping back from public duties was part of his effort to “rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me." Summers also confirmed that he will continue teaching his economics courses at Harvard University.

Summers, who served as US Treasury Secretary from 1999 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton and as Harvard University president from 2001 to 2006, joined OpenAI’s board in 2023. His appointment came during a period of turbulence at the company, which saw CEO Sam Altman briefly removed before returning to his position.

The release of emails has drawn significant scrutiny, including one in which Summers discussed a woman with Epstein, leading to criticism of his judgment. Summers called his association with Epstein as a “major error in judgement" and expressed deep regret for the connection.

Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sexually abusing and trafficking underage girls.

(With inputs from agencies)

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