Top Goldman Sachs Lawyer Resigns Amidst Epstein Revelations
Kathryn Ruemmler, a prominent figure at Goldman Sachs and former White House counsel under President Barack Obama, has announced her departure from the financial giant. Her resignation, slated for June 30, comes in the wake of newly released Justice Department documents that have brought her past communications with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein into the public eye. Ruemmler, who held the position of General Counsel at Goldman Sachs, cited the escalating media attention as a significant distraction for the firm.
“I made the determination that the media attention on me, relating to my prior work as a defense attorney, was becoming a distraction,” Ruemmler stated to The Financial Times. Her departure signifies the end of a high-profile tenure on Wall Street, where she had become a key advisor to CEO David Solomon, following a distinguished legal career that included her service in the Obama administration.
Initially, Goldman Sachs executives had maintained that Ruemmler’s relationship with Epstein was strictly professional, with Ruemmler herself asserting she never represented or advocated for him, though he did occasionally seek her counsel. She has expressed regret for her association with Epstein and stated she had no knowledge of any ongoing illegal activities during their interactions. “I made decisions based on the information that was available to me,” she commented. “I have an enormous amount of sympathy and heartache for anyone he hurt.”
However, the recently unsealed Epstein files paint a more complex picture. Emails dated December 25 and 26, 2015, reveal Ruemmler referring to Epstein as “wonderful Jeffrey,” a sentiment expressed six years after he had already served a prison sentence for the sexual exploitation of a minor.
Further details have emerged, indicating Ruemmler’s presence in the courtroom during Epstein’s 2019 arraignment on sex trafficking charges. Astonishingly, Epstein had also named her as a backup executor of his will. The timeline suggests their association began around the time Ruemmler departed the Obama White House in 2014.
A series of email exchanges between Ruemmler and Epstein, beginning in September 2014, offer a glimpse into their interactions. In one message, Epstein informed Ruemmler, “You need to talk to boss.” Ruemmler, who had left her White House role approximately three months prior, responded, “Agreed, but I need to be prepared to say yes before I talk to him.” Epstein’s reply alluded to a high-stakes decision involving “high risk / reward / low risk / reward. professional, emotional. and fiinancial [sic].” Ruemmler’s subsequent comment about “most girls do not have to worry about this crap” prompted a concerning retort from Epstein: “Girls? Careful i will renew an old habit.”
Epstein then listed several notable individuals he was scheduled to meet with that week, including:
- Peter Thiel
- Larry Summers
- Bill Burns
- Gordon Brown (former British Prime Minister)
- Leon Black
- “Woody”
He also mentioned attendees of a climate summit and members of the security council, suggesting a wide-reaching network of influential contacts.
Additional communications from February 2017 show Ruemmler expressing negative sentiments towards then-President Donald Trump, describing him as “so gross.” Epstein concurred, stating, “Worse in real life and upclose.”
Other correspondence indicates Ruemmler referencing Epstein’s “Russians” in the context of a potential job offer prior to her joining Goldman Sachs. In a separate exchange, she forwarded Epstein emails concerning an affair she had with one of his close associates.
The extent of Epstein’s generosity towards Ruemmler is also evident. She received numerous gifts, including:
- An Hermes bag
- Apple products
- Spa appointments
- Haircuts
- Plane tickets
In January 2019, Ruemmler described her situation as being “totally tricked out by Uncle Jeffrey today!” mentioning “Jeffrey boots, handbag and watch.”
Across a log of emails between Epstein and his legal team, Ruemmler’s name appears hundreds of times within documents spanning over 500 pages.
These revelations have reportedly caused significant internal friction at Goldman Sachs. Sources close to the board have indicated private concerns that CEO David Solomon’s continued support for Ruemmler could negatively impact the bank’s reputation. “It’s a distraction and it’s embarrassing,” one individual commented prior to her resignation. “It’s not the board’s job to hire and fire people. That’s the CEO’s role.”
The handling of the scandal by Solomon has also drawn criticism from several former Goldman executives. Five former partners expressed surprise that Solomon had chosen to stand by Ruemmler, rather than distancing the company from the controversy. Many former executives reportedly felt “deep embarrassment,” were “crushed,” and “profoundly disappointed” by the situation.
In a statement released on Thursday, CEO David M. Solomon acknowledged Ruemmler’s resignation, stating, “I accept her resignation and I respect her decision.” He added, “Throughout her tenure, Kathy has been an extraordinary general counsel, and we are grateful for her contributions and sound advice on a wide range of consequential legal matters for the firm.”
Ruemmler’s departure marks the third high-profile resignation linked to the Epstein files. Previously, Brad Karp, chairman of the law firm Paul Weiss, and Mona Juul, the Scandinavian nation’s ambassador to Jordan and Iraq, also stepped down from their respective positions.
