Former official to quit public roles over Epstein emails

Larry Summers, former US Treasury Secretary and Harvard University professor, announced his decision to withdraw from public engagements following the release of emails linking him to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement, Summers expressed deep remorse, acknowledging the harm caused by his continued communication with Epstein from 2013 to 2019. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have called for organizations to sever ties with Summers in light of the revelations. The House Oversight Committee recently disclosed Epstein-related documents, prompting bipartisan scrutiny. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is poised to pass a motion compelling the Department of Justice to release its Epstein investigation records. President Donald Trump, who initially opposed the release, reversed his stance, claiming transparency would dispel Democratic allegations. Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, remains a focal point of conspiracy theories. His associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, is serving a 20-year sentence for similar charges. The Epstein Files Transparency Act mandates the release of unclassified documents within 30 days, excluding sensitive information that could endanger victims or ongoing investigations.