Kathryn Ruemmler Resigns from Goldman Sachs Amid Fallout from New Epstein Document Release
Goldman Sachs’ General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer, Kathryn Ruemmler, is stepping down from her role following the release of new Department of Justice (DOJ) documents that exposed a more extensive and personal relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein than previously disclosed. Ruemmler, a former White House Counsel under President Barack Obama, will leave the firm effective June 30.
Deep Search: The Document Dump
The latest tranche of unsealed documents provides a granular look at the communications between Ruemmler and Epstein, largely spanning from 2014 to 2019—years after Epstein’s 2008 solicitation conviction and prior to his 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges. While Ruemmler has long maintained that her interactions with Epstein were strictly professional, stemming from her time as a partner at Latham & Watkins, the newly released emails suggest a far warmer dynamic.
“Uncle Jeffrey”: In multiple exchanges, Ruemmler referred to Epstein as “Uncle Jeffrey” and described him as being “like a brother.”
Gifts and Travel: The documents indicate Ruemmler accepted luxury gifts, including an Hermès handbag, and discussed potential travel plans with Epstein. One email from 2015 reportedly reads, “I adore him. It’s like having another older brother!”
Professional Advice: Beyond social niceties, the files suggest Ruemmler provided legal counsel to Epstein on reputational matters, including how to handle media inquiries regarding his sex offender status.
Add Objections: The Defense
Supporters of Ruemmler and initial statements from Goldman Sachs have argued that the correspondence is being taken out of context.
Professional Context: Ruemmler has repeatedly stated that she knew Epstein only in her capacity as a defense attorney and had no knowledge of his continued criminal activities. “I regret ever knowing Jeffrey Epstein,” she said in a recent statement, adding that she did not know him “as the monster he has been revealed to be.”
“Distraction” Defense: In her resignation announcement, Ruemmler framed her departure not as an admission of wrongdoing, but as a necessary move to protect the bank. “I made the determination that the media attention on me, relating to my prior work as a defense attorney, was becoming a distraction,” she told the Financial Times*.
Corporate Support: Until this week, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon had staunchly supported Ruemmler, previously calling her an “extraordinary general counsel” and dismissing earlier reports as focusing on “private correspondence” that predated her time at the bank.
Background Info: From the West Wing to Wall Street
Ruemmler’s career has been defined by high-stakes legal roles at the intersection of politics and finance.
Obama Administration: She served as White House Counsel to President Barack Obama from 2011 to 2014, a position that cemented her status as a top legal operator in Washington.
Latham & Watkins: After leaving the White House, she returned to private practice at Latham & Watkins, where she chaired the white-collar defense practice. It was during this period (2014–2020) that her relationship with Epstein flourished.
Goldman Sachs Tenure: Ruemmler joined Goldman Sachs in 2020 and was promoted to General Counsel in 2021. Her role included overseeing the firm’s reputational risk committee—a position that became increasingly untenable as the specific nature of her communications with Epstein came to light.
The resignation marks one of the most significant corporate departures linked to the ongoing release of Epstein-related files, signaling that the reputational blast radius of the scandal continues to widen years after Epstein’s death.
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