🔗 Share this article Former Treasury Secretary Summers Leaves from OpenAI Board The economist declared he would withdraw from public positions after legislative body made public his frequent correspondence with the financier Ex-Treasury chief Larry Summers is exiting the governing body at OpenAI, just a week after a collection of digital correspondence between him and late convicted sex offender the disgraced billionaire became publicly available. The economist stated in an announcement that he was "thankful for the privilege to have served, optimistic about the promise of the company, and look forward tracking their progress". The prominent academic, who once presided over the prestigious university, stated on Monday that he would be withdrawing from public commitments due to his relationship with Epstein. Digital Correspondence The recently released emails showed that Summers corresponded with Jeffrey Epstein until the 24 hours preceding his 2019 detention for alleged sex trafficking of young people. In another announcement, the technology organization said it respected the economist's decision to resign. "We value his numerous inputs and the perspective he brought to the governing body," OpenAI remarked. Political Context This news follows after the two houses of the legislative branch decided on this week to approve a measure that would require the Department of Justice to make public its records on Epstein. The measure will afterward move to the administration of US President Donald Trump for approval. The President has indicated he expects to approve the legislation, after modifying his position on the subject following pressure from his supporters. Email Contents A group of Epstein-connected messages released by the House Oversight Committee recently included several prominent individuals in the Epstein's former circle, without suggesting any criminal activity by those figures. The messages indicated that the economist and the financier often met for meals, with he often trying to introduce Summers to prominent global figures. Individual Statement After the emails were shared with the wider community, he said he took "complete accountability for my poor decision to continue corresponding with Jeffrey Epstein". He continued that he wanted "to restore trust and mend bonds with the individuals closest to me". Previous Positions The professor served in high-level positions under two Democratic presidents; functioning as treasury secretary under the former president, and as director of the White House economic team under President Obama. He headed the university from five years and continues to be a faculty member there. When declaring his step-down from public duties previously on this week, he indicated he would persist with his educational duties. Additional Consequences Following Summers' announcement on Monday, the Center for American Progress, a liberal research organization in the capital where he was a prominent member, announced that Summers was no longer associated with the organization. Summers joined the board of OpenAI, which develops the language model, in last year - following a defeated move to oust its CEO OpenAI's head.