Kathy Ruemmler, a legal veteran with a distinguished career, is resigning from her high-profile role as General Counsel for Goldman Sachs. Ruemmler, known for prosecuting Enron executives and serving as White House Counsel under President Obama, is stepping down amidst controversy surrounding her close relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Newly released emails and documents paint a picture of a connection far deeper than Ruemmler had previously acknowledged. While she described their relationship as strictly professional, correspondence reviewed by the Associated Press reveals intimate exchanges, social plans, and significant gifts – including luxury handbags and spa treatments – that went well beyond a typical lawyer-client dynamic. These interactions, and the gifts, occurred years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for sex crimes, when he was a registered sex offender.
The emails show Ruemmler was not only aware of Epstein’s allegations but also advised him on how to repair his public image. The two discussed personal matters, shared jokes, and even talked about their dating lives and mutual dislikes. At one point, Epstein even had Ruemmler as a backup executor of his will.
The revelations sparked internal questions at Goldman Sachs, particularly regarding the firm’s strict policies on gift-giving and conflicts of interest. Although Goldman’s leadership publicly supported her, the sheer volume and nature of the correspondence ultimately led to Ruemmler’s decision to resign, effective June 30th. Her departure marks a significant and unexpected turn for a lawyer once considered for Attorney General.
