Kathryn Ruemmler, former White House counsel under Barack Obama, will step down as general counsel at Goldman Sachs following renewed scrutiny over her ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Ruemmler confirmed she will leave the firm on June 30, stating that media attention surrounding her past legal work had become a distraction. Emails recently released by the U.S. Department of Justice revealed exchanges between Ruemmler and Epstein, including messages from 2014 through 2019.
Goldman Sachs executives had previously maintained that Ruemmler’s relationship with Epstein was strictly professional and that she neither represented nor advocated for him. Ruemmler has said she regretted knowing Epstein and had no knowledge of ongoing illegal activity.
The released emails show Ruemmler referring to “wonderful Jeffrey” in messages dated December 2015, several years after Epstein served a jail sentence for soliciting a minor. Court records also indicate she was present during Epstein’s 2019 arraignment on sex trafficking charges and was once listed as a backup executor in his will.
Correspondence from 2014 suggests Epstein discussed potential career opportunities with Ruemmler shortly after she left the Obama administration. In other exchanges, Epstein mentioned meetings with prominent figures including Peter Thiel, Larry Summers, Bill Burns, Gordon Brown, Leon Black and “Woody.”
Additional messages from 2017 show Ruemmler making disparaging remarks about Donald Trump. Emails also reference gifts from Epstein, including luxury items and travel arrangements.
Ruemmler’s name appears hundreds of times in a 500-page email log between Epstein and his legal team. Her departure marks the latest professional fallout tied to associations with the late financier.
