Newly released documents reveal a sustained and surprisingly candid correspondence between former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, stretching years after Epstein’s 2008 prostitution conviction.
Over 20,000 pages of records, made public by House Republicans, detail email exchanges from 2016 to 2019. These communications suggest a relationship far more frequent and personal than previously acknowledged, moving beyond professional acquaintance into a realm of shared observations and personal banter.
The emails aren’t solely focused on policy or economics. They include discussions about an unidentified woman, with Summers detailing a frustrating phone conversation and expressing suspicion about her motivations. He confided in Epstein about feeling manipulated and unwilling to compete for affection.
Epstein responded with a chillingly detached analysis, suggesting the woman was deliberately “making you pay for past errors” and praising Summers for reacting with “annoyance” – interpreting it as a sign of caring rather than weakness. His advice was blunt and unsettlingly insightful.
Months earlier, Summers forwarded an email from another woman to Epstein, adding the comment that “no response for a while probably appropriate.” Epstein’s reply was dismissive, noting she was already sounding “needy.”
The exchanges also reveal a shared disdain for then-President Donald Trump. In July 2018, Epstein inquired about a potential meeting in New York, leading to a discussion where Summers bluntly asked if Russia held compromising information on Trump, calling the President’s behavior “appalling.”
Epstein’s response was scathing, echoing the sentiment that Trump was dangerously naive and oblivious to the symbolic weight of his actions. He asserted that he’d encountered “very bad people,” but none as detrimental as the President.
Throughout 2016 and 2017, Summers repeatedly expressed his desire to distance himself from the Trump administration, citing concerns about conflicts of interest, Trump’s relationship with Vladimir Putin, and his handling of international affairs. He believed remaining aloof was the best service he could provide to the country.
One email from October 2016 references Trump’s attacks on Bill Clinton’s accusers, prompting Summers to ask Epstein if he was about to be implicated. The exchange underscores a shared awareness of potential scandal and a mutual concern for reputation.
These newly surfaced emails paint a picture of a continued, remarkably open dialogue between a powerful figure in American politics and a convicted sex offender, raising questions about the nature of their connection and the extent of Summers’ awareness of Epstein’s activities.
