USA: emails to Epstein, former Treasury Secretary Summers resigns from public office

Boston (Massachusetts, USA), 18 Nov. (LaPresse/AP) – Former US Treasury Secretary and current Harvard professor Larry Summers has announced that he will step down from public office following the publication of emails showing that he maintained friendly relations with Jeffrey Epstein long after the financier pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008. Summers issued a statement to The Harvard Crimson and other media outlets saying he is deeply ashamed of his actions, recognises the pain they have caused and takes full responsibility for his misguided decision to continue communicating with Epstein. Summers says he will continue to teach but will withdraw from public engagements to ‘rebuild trust and repair relationships with those closest to me’. Summers served as Treasury Secretary from 1999 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. He was president of Harvard for five years, from 2001 to 2006. He is currently a professor and director of the university’s Mossavar-Rahmani Centre for Business and Government.