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Ghislaine Maxwell was also aboard the couple’s flight, logs show
Kelly Rissmanin New YorkFriday 21 November 2025 03:48 GMTComments
CloseLarry Summers Steps Back After Epstein Email Fallout
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Larry Summers and his wife flew to Jeffrey Epstein’s private island for part of their 2005 honeymoon, according to a report.
Summers, the former treasury secretary under President Bill Clinton and the former president of Harvard, and his wife Elisa New got married in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in December 2005. Ten days later, they headed to Little Saint James, the Harvard Crimson reported.
To reach the island, the pair boarded Epstein’s plane in Bedford, Massachusetts, traveling to Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, where they then took a helicopter to reach the disgraced financier’s private island, flight logs seen by the outlet show.
Ghislaine Maxwell, who is now serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in a scheme to sexually exploit and abuse girls with Epstein, was also on board, according to the flight logs.
“Mr. Summers and Ms. New spent their honeymoon in St. John and Jamaica in December 2005, which was long before Mr. Epstein was arrested for the first time,” a spokesperson for Summers told the Crimson. “As part of that trip, they made a brief visit of less than a day to Mr. Epstein’s island.”
The Independent has reached out to Summers for comment.
open image in galleryFormer U.S. Treasury Secretary and Harvard professor Larry Summers and his wife honeymooned on Epstein’s Island in 2005, according to a report (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)In March 2005, Palm Beach Police launched an investigation into Epstein after allegations surfaced that he molested a 14-year-old girl during a massage. By December, Epstein was assembling his legal defense team.
Summers has flown on Epstein’s planes four times — including three times when he served as Harvard’s president, according to the Crimson report.
The revelation comes as Summers leaves his teaching role at the Ivy League school after a tranche of emails between him and the convicted sex offender were released this month. Summers exchanged emails with Epstein as recently as 2019.
Harvard also launched an investigation into the emails and his ties with Epstein.
Before announcing he was stepping down from his teaching role, Summers said earlier this week that he planned to take a step from public life after the emails came to light.
open image in galleryLittle St James Island, one of the properties of financier Jeffrey Epstein, is seen in an aerial view in July (REUTERS)“I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused,” Summers told Politico Monday. “I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein.”
Last week, President Donald Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi “to investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s involvement and relationship” with Clinton, Summers and other prominent Democrats. “Records show that these men, and many others, spent large portions of their life with Epstein, and on his ‘Island,’” the president wrote on Truth Social.
“Epstein was a Democrat, and he is the Democrat’s problem, not the Republican’s problem!” he fumed in a separate post. “Ask Bill Clinton, Reid Hoffman, and Larry Summers about Epstein, they know all about him, don’t waste your time with Trump. I have a Country to run!”
Trump’s name frequently appeared in the tranche of Epstein emails. He has not been accused of any wrongdoing and did not send or receive any of the messages.
In one email, Epstein claims Trump “knew about the girls.” Trump has directly refuted this allegation, saying: “I know nothing about that.”
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