Goldman Sachs Chief Legal Officer Resigns Following Epstein Document Release
Kathryn Ruemmler, the chief legal officer at Goldman Sachs and one of the highest-paid attorneys in the United States, resigned abruptly on Thursday night. Her departure came immediately after the U.S. Justice Department released a trove of emails and documents that detailed her extensive, years-long relationship with the infamous financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
Contradictory Evidence Emerges from Released Communications
For years, both Ruemmler and Goldman Sachs had publicly maintained that her interactions with Epstein were strictly professional and limited. However, the newly publicized emails, text messages, and photographs present a starkly different narrative. These records indicate that Ruemmler's connection with Epstein predated her employment at Goldman Sachs, which began in 2020, and was far more personal and involved than previously acknowledged.
Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon confirmed the resignation in a formal statement, saying, "I have accepted her resignation, and I respect her decision." Ruemmler had served as the bank's general counsel since 2021 and held additional roles as a partner and vice chair of the reputational risk committee. Her distinguished career includes previous positions as White House counsel under President Barack Obama and as a white-collar defense lawyer at the prestigious firm Latham & Watkins.
Deep Personal and Advisory Ties Revealed
The Justice Department's document release, comprising over 10,000 pages that mention Ruemmler, paints a picture of a multifaceted relationship. The records show Ruemmler acting not just as an occasional advisor but as a counselor, confidant, and friend to Epstein. Their communications included her advising him on how to navigate questions about his sex crimes, discussing strategies to manage negative media coverage, and sharing personal details about her dating life. She used affectionate terms like "sweetie" and "Uncle Jeffrey" in her messages.
In a 2018 email highlighted by The Guardian, Ruemmler wrote to Epstein, "So lovely and thoughtful! Thank you to Uncle Jeffrey!!!" In return, Epstein provided her with career guidance regarding her move to Goldman Sachs, introduced her to influential business figures, and bestowed gifts such as spa treatments, luxury items, and high-end travel opportunities.
Emails Detail Legal Advice and Intimate Exchanges
The correspondence, dating back to at least 2014, reveals Ruemmler describing their connection as a "friendship" in one email. She offered Epstein detailed legal explanations, such as distinguishing between underage victims of sex crimes and adult prostitutes. In a 2015 message, she wrote, "I think the point is that if she was underage, she could not legally consent to engaging in prostitution."
She also advised him on tactics to challenge the credibility of an accuser, suggesting his lawyer could potentially lead the woman into a "perjury trap." The personal nature of their relationship is further underscored by emails where Ruemmler wished Epstein a happy birthday with the message, "I hope you enjoy the day with your one true love. :-)" and signed off with "xoxo." They exchanged photographs and discussed topics ranging from her dating concerns to speculative jokes about public figures.
Conflicting Claims About Attorney-Client Relationship
Despite Goldman Sachs and Ruemmler consistently asserting that Epstein was never her client, a 2018 email exchange contradicts this. When she assisted him in editing a legal document related to his 2008 plea deal for soliciting prostitution from a minor, the email subject line explicitly read, "Attorney Client." This directly challenges the bank's recent defense that her links with Epstein were appropriate and occurred solely before her hiring.
In her resignation, Ruemmler stated, "My responsibility is to put Goldman Sachs' interests first," acknowledging the escalating reputational damage from the revelations. The bank had vigorously defended her in recent weeks, but the sheer volume and content of the released documents made her position untenable, leading to her immediate exit from one of the most powerful legal roles in global finance.
