BOSTON (AP) — Larry Summers, the former U.S. Treasury secretary and Harvard University president, announced he will reduce his public commitments following the release of emails revealing his ongoing relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. This decision comes after documents showed Summers sought Epstein's advice regarding a personal matter involving a female mentee.

In a statement released on Monday, Summers expressed deep regret for his actions, acknowledging the pain they have caused. "I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused. I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein," he said. He emphasized that stepping back is part of his effort to rebuild trust and repair relationships with those close to him.

Despite stepping back from public engagements, Summers confirmed he will continue teaching economics courses at Harvard. He has been a prominent figure in economics, serving as Treasury secretary from 1999 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton and leading Harvard from 2001 to 2006. He is also a director at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at Harvard.

The emails released last week highlighted Summers' interactions with Epstein, who was convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sexually abusing and trafficking minors. The correspondence revealed that many of Epstein's influential connections maintained contact with him long after his conviction.

In one email from 2019, Summers discussed a woman he was interested in, stating, "I said what are you up to. She said 'I’m busy'. I said awfully coy u are." Epstein's response included comments on Summers' emotional reactions, indicating the nature of their relationship.

Summers' decision to step back comes amid increasing scrutiny of Epstein's connections with high-profile individuals, including politicians and academics. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a former Harvard law professor, criticized Summers' judgment and called for the university to sever ties with him. She stated that his relationship with Epstein demonstrated "monumentally bad judgment" and questioned his ability to advise future leaders.

The Economic Club of New York had planned to host Summers for a discussion this week but postponed the event shortly after the emails were made public. The club cited an "unavoidable change in schedule" as the reason for the postponement.

As the investigation into Epstein's network continues, more documents may be released if Congress votes to compel the Justice Department to disclose additional files related to Epstein. Summers has previously expressed regret over his association with Epstein, calling it a "major error in judgment."

Summers remains a significant figure in economic discussions, having contributed to various academic and policy forums. He is also a paid contributor at Bloomberg TV and has written for leading financial publications. His ongoing role at OpenAI was confirmed as of Monday evening, despite the controversy surrounding his past communications with Epstein.