Dean Kamen is taking a leave of absence from FIRST, the youth robotics nonprofit he founded in 1989 in Manchester. In a statement posted on its website Sunday, FIRST said Kamen is on leave from its board of directors effective immediately, pending an independent review. The review follows Kamen being named multiple times in the most recent batch of the Epstein files that were released Friday by the U.S. Department of Justice.One email included in the documents describes a plan for Kamen to spend a night on Epstein’s private island. “Jeffrey Epstein reached out to me to become involved in my projects to bring clean water and distributed power to developing countries by offering resources and introductions to the leaders of those countries,” Kamen said in a statement to News 9. After early meetings, Kamen said he found that Epstein’s only interest was self-promotion and that he avoided future meetings. “Given what I know now, I of course regret even those limited interactions,” Kamen said.A 2013 email from Kamen’s office to Epstein reads, “I will strip down the package I was planning to send to include only certain DEKA-internal information.” DEKA is the technology development company Kamen founded. Several released emails showed that Epstein tried to connect women he knew to work for Kamen. In an email exchange between Epstein and Kamen in 2014, Epstein asked Kamen to help a woman with an internship. According to the statement, the FIRST board is using an outside law firm to conduct the review, and Kamen has agreed to cooperate. >> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go <<“Both Dean and the Board of Directors agree that nothing should distract from the inspiring work of the organization and its teams, mentors, and volunteers,” the statement said. Kamen was also pictured with both Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in previously released documents. Kamen has not been accused of any wrongdoing.In a statement to News 9, Kamen said he wants no questions about his philanthropic work’s integrity. “I encouraged the Board of FIRST to undertake an independent review, I volunteered to temporarily step away from the Board to ensure the integrity of that review, and I am confident in its outcome. I look forward to maintaining our full focus on the mission of FIRST and my other philanthropic endeavors. As I said before, I have no knowledge of any of the horrific crimes of Jeffrey Epstein or his associates other than what I have learned from news reports. In addition to crossing paths at various conferences and events, Jeffrey Epstein reached out to me to become involved in my projects to bring clean water and distributed power to developing countries by offering resources and introductions to the leaders of those countries. After initial meetings, it became apparent that his only interest was self-promotion and I avoided further meetings. Given what is known now, I of course regret even those limited interactions. I will defer all further comment on this topic until the conclusion of the independent review,” he said.In a previous statement to WMUR, Kamen said he had no knowledge of Epstein’s horrific actions.

MANCHESTER, N.H. —

Dean Kamen is taking a leave of absence from FIRST, the youth robotics nonprofit he founded in 1989 in Manchester.

In a statement posted on its website Sunday, FIRST said Kamen is on leave from its board of directors effective immediately, pending an independent review.

The review follows Kamen being named in the new Epstein files that were released Friday by the U.S. Department of Justice.

One email included in the documents describes a plan for Kamen to spend a night on Epstein’s private island.

“Jeffrey Epstein reached out to me to become involved in my projects to bring clean water and distributed power to developing countries by offering resources and introductions to the leaders of those countries,” Kamen said in a statement to News 9.

After early meetings, Kamen said he found that Epstein’s only interest was self-promotion and that he avoided future meetings.

“Given what I know now, I of course regret even those limited interactions,” Kamen said.

A 2013 email from Kamen’s office to Epstein reads, “I will strip down the package I was planning to send to include only certain DEKA-internal information.”

DEKA is the technology development company Kamen founded.

Several released emails showed that Epstein tried to connect women he knew to work for Kamen. In an email exchange between Epstein and Kamen in 2014, Epstein asked Kamen to help a woman with an internship.

According to the statement, the FIRST board is using an outside law firm to conduct the review, and Kamen has agreed to cooperate.

>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go <<

“Both Dean and the Board of Directors agree that nothing should distract from the inspiring work of the organization and its teams, mentors, and volunteers,” the statement said.

Kamen was also pictured with both Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in previously released documents.

Kamen has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

In a statement to News 9, Kamen said he wants no questions about his philanthropic work’s integrity.

“I encouraged the Board of FIRST to undertake an independent review, I volunteered to temporarily step away from the Board to ensure the integrity of that review, and I am confident in its outcome. I look forward to maintaining our full focus on the mission of FIRST and my other philanthropic endeavors. As I said before, I have no knowledge of any of the horrific crimes of Jeffrey Epstein or his associates other than what I have learned from news reports. In addition to crossing paths at various conferences and events, Jeffrey Epstein reached out to me to become involved in my projects to bring clean water and distributed power to developing countries by offering resources and introductions to the leaders of those countries. After initial meetings, it became apparent that his only interest was self-promotion and I avoided further meetings. Given what is known now, I of course regret even those limited interactions. I will defer all further comment on this topic until the conclusion of the independent review,” he said.

In a previous statement to WMUR, Kamen said he had no knowledge of Epstein’s horrific actions.