New York Times Ends Contract with Larry Summers Following Release of Epstein Emails
New York, November 19, 2025 – The New York Times has announced it will not renew a contract with economist Larry Summers after the recent release of emails revealing communications with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The decision marks the latest in a series of repercussions for Summers following the publication of the Epstein files last week.
The Times stated that Summers,who was slated to be a contributing writer for the Opinion section beginning in January 2025,will not be continuing in that role. “We thank him for his contributions,” said Charlie Stadtlander, the New York Times’ executive director for media relations and communications, on Tuesday.
The fallout stems from emails disclosed in the Epstein files showing Summers seeking advice from Epstein on relationship matters, including discussing the prospects of a romantic encounter with a woman referred to as ”peril.” one email from March 16, 2019, details a conversation between summers and Epstein about a woman, with Summers writing, “I said what are you up to. she said ‘I’m busy’. I said awfully coy u are.” Epstein responded, “You reacted well.. annoyed shows caring. , no whining showed strentgh.” He also dictated a message for Summers to send, stating: “Just send, happy for the time we spent together- have fun see you soon.”
Beyond the New York Times, Summers’ position as a “distinguished senior fellow” with the Center for American Progress has ended, and he is no longer a member of the advisory group at Yale’s Budget Lab.
As of Tuesday, OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, had not commented on weather Summers would be stepping down from its board of directors, a position he assumed in November 2023.
summers issued a statement Monday acknowledging his “deep shame” and taking “full obligation” for his “misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr Epstein.” He stated he would step back from public commitments to “rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me” while continuing to fulfill his teaching obligations.
The revelations have also drawn political attention.Former President Donald Trump called for investigations into Epstein’s relationships with Summers and other prominent figures – excluding Republicans – via his Truth Social platform on Friday.
Summers previously served as US treasury secretary under President Bill Clinton from 1999 to 2001 and currently holds a position as a professor and director at Harvard’s Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government.
The Guardian has reached out to Summers for further comment.
