Kathryn Ruemmler, Goldman Sachs’ Chief Legal Officer, has announced her resignation effective June 30th following mounting scrutiny over her previously undisclosed relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The departure comes after months of internal pressure at the Wall Street giant, where Ruemmler chaired the reputational risk committee.
Recently disclosed Justice Department documents reveal extensive communications between Ruemmler and Epstein spanning 2014-2019, during which she referred to the financier as “Uncle Jeffrey” in personal correspondence. The emails detail how Epstein bestowed luxury gifts upon Ruemmler, including a Hermès handbag, designer boots, an Apple Watch, and $10,000 in Bergdorf Goodman gift cards.
In one particularly revealing 2015 message, Ruemmler wrote to an undisclosed recipient: “I adore him. It’s like having another older brother!” This communication followed Epstein’s offer to purchase her a first-class ticket to Europe.
The documents further show that Ruemmler provided Epstein with strategic media advice in March 2019, four months prior to his arrest on sex trafficking charges. She counseled him on countering allegations that his 2008 plea deal for soliciting prostitution from a minor was overly lenient, suggesting he frame the narrative around perceived persecution due to his wealth.
Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon acknowledged Ruemmler’s departure in a formal statement: “Throughout her tenure, Kathy has been an extraordinary general counsel, and we are grateful for her contributions. She has also been a mentor and friend to many of our people.”
Ruemmler, who previously served as White House Counsel under President Barack Obama, maintained in a recent Reuters statement: “I got to know him as a lawyer and that was the foundation of my relationship. I had no knowledge of any ongoing criminal conduct on his part.”
This resignation marks the latest corporate fallout from the ongoing Epstein document disclosures, following last week’s departure of Paul Weiss Chairman Brad Karp over similar revelations.