Larry Summers, former Harvard president, announced he will reduce public engagements after seven years of emails with Jeffrey Epstein were released. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform disclosed that Summers stayed in contact with Epstein long after his 2008 conviction. Summers said the revelations caused personal strain, noting he aims “to rebuild trust with those closest to him” and rethink his public role.

The emails show Summers communicated with Epstein until July 5, 2019—one day before Epstein’s arrest on federal sex-trafficking charges. They included personal matters, such as Summers seeking Epstein’s advice on a romantic pursuit, with Epstein calling himself Summers’ “wing man.” These interactions sparked criticism, clashing with Summers’ reputation as a leading economist and academic.

Summers expressed shame and took responsibility for his “misguided” decisions. Despite the backlash, he will maintain his major academic and institutional roles at Harvard, the Center for American Progress, Bloomberg, and OpenAI, while stepping back from public commentary to reflect.

At the same time, Representative Jamie Raskin faced criticism for releasing private prison emails from Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate. Maxwell’s lawyer called it “a severe abuse of power,” noting the emails were accessed without authorization and violated her constitutional rights.

Maxwell described her current prison as significantly better than her previous facility in Florida, praising its cleanliness and calm while mocking the earlier conditions. These events highlight ongoing ethical and political fallout around Epstein, raising questions about privacy, accountability, and public responsibility.