Recent revelations from the House panel investigating Jeffrey Epstein have implicated Larry Summers, a prominent board member, in controversial exchanges with the convicted sex offender. In July 2019, Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking minors and conspiracy to commit the same crime. In those same communications, between November 2018 and July 2019, he referred to himself as Summers’s “wing man.”
The emails and text messages made public for the first time Friday expose a nauseating bro-ocracy—emphasis on bro—between the two men. Epstein urged Summers to take a duplicitous “long game” on a specific woman he called the “she” in their conversations. So he asked Dr. Summers to continue to hold this person in “a forced holding pattern.” This created potential ethical conflicts in their relationship.
In one notable exchange, Epstein texted Summers with a chilling sentiment: “She is doomed to be with you.” This allegations highlights the horrific power dynamics surrounding his influence and makes the public question how Summers could have been this out of touch. In addition, these communications shed light on Epstein’s powerful influence over Summers. This occurred as Epstein was under extraordinary scrutiny.
Summers even admitted the complexity of the relationship himself, on record and in his own field of expertise. He stated, “She must be very confused or maybe wants to cut me off but wants professional connection a lot and so holds to it.” Spilling the ketchup bottle This admission is proof of just how aware they are of the emotional shitstorm coming down the pike. It still doesn’t relieve worries of whether their interactions are acceptable.
The release of these emails has sparked renewed interest in Epstein’s network and the extent of his connections with influential figures. The consequences of such communications pose difficult questions, especially regarding accountability and the latitude often afforded to those in power.
