Larry Summers steps back from public commitments

Former Treasure Secretary Larry Summers said Monday that he was backing away from all public commitments amid the fallout from the release of emails between him and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused. I take full responsibility for my poor decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein,” Summers said in a statement obtained by CNBC. he said.

“While I continue to fulfill my teaching obligations, I will step back from public commitments as part of my broader efforts,” said Summers, who is the former president of Harvard University and teaches at the school.

Summers is a board member of OpenAI. He is also a columnist for Bloomberg News.

CNBC requested comment from OpenAI.

Summer’s statement followed the Harvard newspaper. red, She published an article detailing her emails with Epstein, which came to light last week when the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released more than 20,000 documents it obtained pursuant to a subpoena from Epstein’s estate.

The Crimson noted that Summers “seeked guidance from a longtime associate, convicted sex offender Jeffrey E. Epstein, while pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman he described as a mentee.”

Emails and messages between the two men between November 2018 and July 2019 show Summers, who was and still is married, “approached Epstein for advice on pursuing the woman,” the newspaper reported.

“Epstein immediately offered reassurance and overtures, and described himself as Summers’ ‘wingman’ in a November 2018 message,” Red noted.

Epstein killed himself in August 2019, weeks after he was arrested on child sex trafficking charges.

This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.