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Ex-Treasury chief the Harvard professor is departing from the board at OpenAI, just a week after a collection of emails between him and deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein became widely known.

Summers stated in an announcement that he was "appreciative for the opportunity to have participated, optimistic about the potential of the enterprise, and eagerly await following their advancement".

The former Harvard president, who once headed the prestigious university, announced on earlier this week that he would be stepping back from public roles due to his association with the convicted sex offender.

Digital Correspondence

The newly public communications demonstrated that the official corresponded with Epstein until the eve of Epstein's 2019 arrest for alleged trafficking of minors.

In another announcement, the technology organization expressed it understood his decision to resign.

"We value his significant contributions and the insight he offered to the governing body," the company commented.

Political Context

This announcement follows after the entire Congress of the US legislature agreed on this week to pass a measure that would require the federal prosecutors to disclose its records on Epstein.

The legislation will then head to the administration of President Trump for approval. Trump has said he plans to approve the measure, after reversing his position on the matter following objections from his supporters.

Message Details

A group of Epstein-connected correspondence released by the legislative panel last week mentioned numerous high-profile figures in the financier's former circle, without indicating any illegal behavior by those individuals.

The emails showed that Summers and Epstein often met for meals, with the billionaire often trying to link the official to prominent world leaders.

Personal Response

After the emails were shared with the wider community, the former official stated he took "total ownership for my poor judgment to persist in corresponding with Mr Epstein".

He further stated that he desired "to restore trust and mend relationships with the people nearest to me".

Career Background

Summers served in senior posts under party leaders; serving as economic leader under the former president, and as leader of the White House economic team under Barack Obama.

He led the university from 2001 to 2006 and is still a academic there. When stating his departure from public roles previously on this week, he stated he would maintain his teaching commitments.

Further Repercussions

Following Summers' announcement on Monday, the policy organization, a left-leaning policy institute in DC where he was a senior fellow, confirmed that the economist was not connected with the organization.

He entered the board of the technology firm, which creates ChatGPT, in 2023 - following a defeated move to oust its top executive Sam Altman.