A former Obama administration official quietly exits the board of the world’s most influential AI company after his connections to notorious sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein become impossible to ignore.
The Epstein Files Strike Again
Larry Summers, who served as Treasury Secretary under Bill Clinton and economic advisor to Barack Obama, stepped down from OpenAI’s board after his name appeared in recently released Jeffrey Epstein documents.
The resignation marks another casualty in the ongoing fallout from the convicted sex trafficker’s extensive network of high-profile connections. Summers had joined the OpenAI Foundation’s board to help guide the organization’s mission to ensure that artificial intelligence benefits humanity.
A Pattern of Elite Entanglements
The released emails reveal correspondence between Summers and Epstein that occurred years before Summers joined OpenAI’s leadership.
🚨WOW!! Larry Summers opened his class today by addressing the shame he feels because of what he did with Epstein
“Some of you will have seen my statement of regret, expressing my shame, with respect to what I did in communication with Mr. Epstein.”
They are all going down and… pic.twitter.com/b1AbZUl0Rt
— TONY™ (@TONYxTWO) November 19, 2025
This development follows a familiar pattern where prominent figures in academia, finance, and technology maintained relationships with Epstein despite growing awareness of his criminal activities. Summers previously faced criticism for his connections to Epstein during his tenure as Harvard University president, when the university accepted donations from the financier.
OpenAI’s Governance Under Scrutiny
Summers’ departure comes at a critical time for OpenAI, which has transformed from a nonprofit research organization into one of the most valuable companies in the world. The organization has faced increasing questions about its governance structure, particularly after the dramatic firing and rehiring of CEO Sam Altman in late 2023. Board composition and oversight have become central issues as the company navigates the massive commercial success of ChatGPT while maintaining its stated mission of responsible AI development.
The timing of Summers’ resignation raises legitimate concerns about the due diligence in selecting board members for organizations that wield enormous influence over emerging technologies. OpenAI’s decisions affect millions of users worldwide and shape the future of artificial intelligence development. Board members must meet the highest standards of integrity and judgment, particularly when guiding technologies that could fundamentally reshape society.
The Cost of Association
This resignation underscores how Epstein’s network continues to impact elite institutions years after his death. The steady drip of revelations from court documents and investigations has created a reckoning for many who maintained professional or social relationships with the financier. While association doesn’t imply wrongdoing, it raises questions about judgment and the insular nature of elite networks that often govern major institutions.
Larry Summers was 64 years old when he had this email exchange with Jeffrey Epstein. It truly goes to show that every human being, no matter their age, wealth and power, is secretly an insecure 12 years old. pic.twitter.com/F0zIAZnthQ
— ☀️ Jon Schwarz ☀️ (@schwarz) November 12, 2025
Summers’s academic credentials and government experience initially made him an attractive board member for OpenAI’s mission-driven work. However, the optics of maintaining leadership positions while connected to such a notorious figure became untenable. The resignation demonstrates how past associations can undermine present effectiveness, regardless of the specific nature of those relationships or their timing.