Goldman Sachs’ top lawyer resigns upon the exposure of the Epstein relationship
Goldman Sachs’ top lawyer resigns upon the exposure of the Epstein relationship
Emails show Kathy Ruemmler had strong ties to a convicted sexual abuser she dubbed ‘Uncle Jeffrey.’
Kathy Ruemmler, Goldman Sachs‘ top lawyer and former White House counsel to Barack Obama, has resigned in the wake of emails revealing a strong relationship between her and Jeffrey Epstein, whom she referred to as “Uncle Jeffrey.”
Ruemmler announced in a statement on Thursday that she will “step down as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of Goldman Sachs as of June 30, 2026.””
Ruemmler had frequently tried to separate herself from the emails and other correspondence prior to her retirement, and she was adamant about not resigning from Goldman’s top legal position, which she had held since 2020.
While Ruemmler has referred to Epstein as a “monster” in recent utterances, she had a quite different relationship with him before he was arrested for sex crimes a second time in 2019 and later committed suicide in a Manhattan jail; Ruemmler referred to Epstein as “Uncle Jeffrey” in emails and said she cherished him.
Prior to her resignation, a Goldman Sachs spokeswoman stated that Ruemmler “regrets ever knowing him.”
Ruemmler received several pricey presents from Epstein during her time in private practice after leaving the White House in 2014. These included fancy purses and a fur coat. The presents were presented after Epstein was convicted of sex crimes in 2008 and registered as a sex offender.
“Very gorgeous and thoughtful! Thank you, Uncle Jeffrey!!!” Ruemmler contacted Epstein in 2018.
Historically, Wall Street has frowned on gift-giving between clients and bankers or Wall Street lawyers, especially high-end presents that could create a conflict of interest. According to the company’s code of conduct, Goldman Sachs requires its employees to obtain pre-approval before accepting or offering gifts from clients, in part to avoid violating anti-bribery legislation.
Ruemmler was a member of Goldman Sachs’ leadership team, ranking among the firm’s top executives. As late as December, Goldman CEO David Solomon praised Ruemmler as an “excellent lawyer” and stated that she had his whole trust and support.
Solomon said in a statement on Thursday, “As one of the most accomplished experts in her area, Kathy has also been a mentor and friend to many of our employees, and she will be missed. I accept her resignation and appreciate her decision.
Epstein also called Ruemmler’s cell phone when he was arrested on July 6, 2019, among other calls he made that night, according to two documents citing police notes.
In a separate letter, the Federal Bureau of Investigation quoted Epstein as stating on the same day, “Is this about sex trafficking? “Is this about underage?”
According to the unnamed author of the FBI document, Epstein remarked things like, “Oh, this is bad, this is pretty bad.”
According to the records, Ruemmler communicated with Epstein often between 2014 and 2019, even after the notorious financier pleaded guilty in 2008 to recruiting a person under the age of 18 for prostitution.
These contacts included coaching Epstein on how to respond to a media inquiry in 2019 about alleged privileged legal treatment he received due to his connections, according to the emails.