The US president has claimed that disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had more ties with Democrats than Republicans.

On Monday, one of those mentioned by Donald Trump, U.S. economist Larry Summers, announced he will step back from public commitments.

That follows the release of emails showing Summers maintained a friendly relationship with Epstein long after the financier pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl in 2008.

Last week U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi also ordered a top federal prosecutor to investigate Epstein’s ties to Trump political foes.

Larry Summers is the former president of Harvard University who once served as U.S. treasury secretary under President Bill Clinton. He also served as director of the National Economic council under President Obama.

Summers said in his statement:

“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,”

Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges he sexually abused and trafficked underage girls.

Emails made public last week showed many in Epstein’s vast network of wealthy and influential friends continued to stay in touch long after his 2008 guilty plea.