Harvard University announced on Tuesday that it has initiated a new investigation into the connections between former president Lawrence H. Summers and the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This inquiry follows the release of a new set of emails from Epstein to Summers and other individuals at the university, highlighting the extent of their interactions.
The Harvard Crimson and The Boston Globe reported that this investigation is in light of the emails that indicate Summers had maintained regular correspondence with Epstein over several years, portraying a relationship that appears to be closer than previously disclosed.
In a related development, Summers announced on Monday that he would be reducing his public commitments but confirmed he will continue to teach economics at Harvard. Both the university and Summers did not provide immediate comments regarding the ongoing investigation.
Harvard had previously conducted an investigation in 2020 regarding Epstein’s ties to the institution, but the newly uncovered correspondence may lead to further scrutiny into the depth of these connections. The release of these emails has the potential to shed more light on the complexities of associations that Epstein maintained with various prominent figures and institutions.
This latest investigation demonstrates Harvard’s commitment to transparency and accountability, as it seeks to better understand the implications of past relationships and the importance of ethical standards in academia.