Ex-Harvard president Larry Summers steps back from public role after Epstein email release

Summers' move comes after the US Department of Justice announced that it would investigate Epstein's "involvement and relationship" with former President Bill Clinton, who was also a friend of Epstein, and several other prominent Democrats.

Clinton has strongly denied he had any knowledge of Epstein's crimes.

The department's decision came at the urging of Trump, who also asked for Summers, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman and banks JP Morgan and Chase, to be investigated.

Hoffman is yet to comment. A spokesperson for JPMorgan Chase said the firm regretted "any association" it had with Epstein, and added that it "did not help him commit his heinous acts".

Trump was also mentioned in the emails, which do not imply any wrongdoing.

"Epstein was a Democrat, and he is the Democrat's problem, not the Republican's problem!" he wrote on social media.

"They all know about him, don't waste your time with Trump. I have a Country to run!"

The emails released by the House Oversight Committee last week indicate that Summers and Epstein met for dinner frequently, with Epstein often trying to connect Summers to prominent global figures. At one point, in July 2018, Epstein proposed a meeting with the "president [sic] of united nations, interesting person for you".

In a separate email just after Trump's first election in 2016, Summers told Epstein to "spend zero effort on anything about me with Trump".

Due to Trump's "approach to conflict of interest", Putin "proximity" and "mindless response" to Cuban leader Fidel Castro's death, Summers said he was "best off a million miles away".

A representative for Summers previously told US media that he "deeply regrets being in contact with Epstein" after Epstein's conviction in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

The emails mention many high-profile figures. A review by the Wall Street Journal found Trump was mentioned in more than 1,600 of the 2,324 email threads.

Trump has repeatedly said he severed contact with the financier years before Epstein was convicted in 2008, and was unaware of his criminal activity. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.

While Trump was discussed in some of the messages released last week, he did not send or receive them.