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One-time economic leader the Harvard professor is exiting the governing body at the artificial intelligence firm, just several days after a collection of electronic messages between him and deceased financier the accused trafficker became public.

Summers stated in a release that he was "appreciative for the opportunity to have contributed, optimistic about the prospects of the company, and anticipate tracking their advancement".

Summers, who formerly led the Ivy League institution, stated on earlier this week that he would be withdrawing from public commitments due to his relationship with the convicted sex offender.

Digital Correspondence

The newly public communications showed that Summers exchanged messages with the financier until the 24 hours preceding the financier's 2019 apprehension for accused sex trafficking of underage individuals.

In a separate statement, the AI firm said it respected Summers' choice to resign.

"We value his many contributions and the perspective he offered to the governing body," the organization remarked.

Political Context

This development comes after the two houses of Congress decided on Tuesday to approve a legislation that would mandate the Department of Justice to disclose its records on Jeffrey Epstein.

The legislation will then move to the office of US President Donald Trump for endorsement. He has indicated he plans to approve the measure, after changing his position on the subject following pushback from his followers.

Message Details

A group of Epstein-connected messages disclosed by the legislative panel recently mentioned several high-profile figures in the billionaire's past associates, without suggesting any legal wrongdoing by those figures.

The emails showed that Summers and the financier often met for meals, with Epstein often attempting to connect Summers to influential global figures.

Personal Accountability

After the emails were shared with the general audience, Summers stated he took "full responsibility for my ill-advised judgment to persist in communicating with Mr Epstein".

He further stated that he desired "to rebuild faith and fix connections with the persons closest to me".

Previous Positions

The professor held high-level positions under two Democratic presidents; functioning as treasury secretary under the former president, and as head of the economic advisory body under the former leader.

He presided over Harvard from 2001 to 2006 and continues to be a academic there. When declaring his withdrawal from public commitments previously on Monday, he stated he would continue his teaching commitments.

Additional Consequences

Following the economist's statement on earlier this week, the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank in DC where Summers was a researcher, announced that he was ceased to be affiliated with the institution.

Summers entered the leadership of OpenAI, which develops ChatGPT, in last year - following a unsuccessful effort to remove its chief executive OpenAI's head.