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Goldman Sachs Legal Chief Resigns Following Revelations of Close Epstein Ties
Kathy Ruemmler, Goldman Sachs’ general counsel, announced her resignation Thursday amid mounting scrutiny over her previously undisclosed relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The decision comes after thousands of emails revealed a far more intimate connection than she had previously acknowledged.
Ruemmler, 54, has maintained a distinguished legal career spanning government service and private practice. As a federal prosecutor, she successfully helped convict Enron executives Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling. She later served in various capacities during President Barack Obama’s administration, most notably as White House Counsel, and was even briefly considered for the position of attorney general.
However, approximately 8,400 documents recently released and reviewed by The Associated Press paint a picture of a relationship with Epstein that extended far beyond the professional boundaries Ruemmler had described. The correspondence, which spans several years following Epstein’s 2008 conviction on sex crimes charges, reveals frequent personal exchanges, social plans, and lavish gifts that suggest a close friendship.
“Well, I adore him. It’s like having another older brother!” Ruemmler wrote in a 2015 email about Epstein. In another exchange, after receiving a prepaid spa treatment from Epstein in 2016, his assistant wrote to Ruemmler, “It makes him happy to see you happy.”
The communications reveal a pattern of gift-giving that included luxury items such as Hermes handbags, an Apple Watch, and a Fendi coat. When Ruemmler fell ill in October 2018, Epstein directed an assistant to send her flowers and chicken soup, one of several such gestures documented in their correspondence.
Beyond material exchanges, the emails depict a relationship characterized by personal confidences. The pair discussed dating issues, shared jokes, and commiserated about career challenges. At one point, Epstein even named Ruemmler as a backup executor of his will.
“So lovely and thoughtful! Thank you to Uncle Jeffrey!!!” Ruemmler wrote to Epstein in 2018, following one of his gifts.
The documents also indicate Ruemmler was aware of the severity of allegations against Epstein regarding underage girls in Florida. In some instances, she advised him on reputation management and public defense strategies against new misconduct claims. She was later involved in Epstein’s legal defense efforts after his 2019 arrest on sex trafficking charges, before he died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell.
These revelations stand in stark contrast to Ruemmler’s previous characterizations of her relationship with Epstein. She had called him a “monster” and expressed regret at having known him, describing their relationship as strictly professional based on her work as a private defense attorney before joining Goldman Sachs in 2020.
The disclosures have raised significant questions about Ruemmler’s judgment, particularly in the context of Wall Street’s traditionally conservative stance on gift-giving between clients and legal professionals. Goldman Sachs’ own code of conduct requires employees to obtain pre-approval for gifts to avoid conflicts of interest and potential violations of anti-bribery laws.
According to multiple financial news outlets, including Bloomberg News and The Wall Street Journal, Goldman Sachs partners had begun questioning Ruemmler’s position, suggesting other lawyers were equally qualified for the top legal role.
In her resignation statement Thursday, Ruemmler acknowledged her responsibility to the firm: “Since I joined Goldman Sachs six years ago, it has been my privilege to help oversee the firm’s legal, reputational, and regulatory matters; to enhance our strong risk management processes; and to ensure that we live by our core value of integrity in everything we do. My responsibility is to put Goldman Sachs’ interests first.”
Goldman CEO David Solomon stated that he respected Ruemmler’s decision to resign. The company announced she would remain until June 30 to ensure a smooth transition.
The documents that prompted Ruemmler’s resignation are part of a larger cache being reviewed by a collaboration of major news organizations including the AP, CBS, NBC, MS NOW, and CNBC as part of an ongoing investigation into Epstein’s network of connections.
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11 Comments
Wow, this is a major blow to Ruemmler’s career and reputation. Her close, undisclosed relationship with Epstein, even post-conviction, is a huge ethical lapse for someone in her position. Goldman had no choice but to accept her resignation – they can’t afford that kind of reputational damage.
Absolutely. Ruemmler should have known better than to maintain such a close personal connection with Epstein. Goldman had to act swiftly to distance themselves from this scandal.
The details about Ruemmler’s personal ties to Epstein are quite disturbing. As a top lawyer, she should have known better than to engage with him in this manner, even after his conviction. Goldman made the prudent choice in accepting her resignation to protect the firm’s reputation.
This is a disappointing turn of events for Ruemmler’s career. Her intimate ties to Epstein, even post-conviction, seem to have irreparably damaged her credibility and standing. Kudos to Goldman for taking decisive action – they cannot afford to have such tainted leadership.
Ruemmler’s undisclosed relationship with Epstein is deeply concerning. As a high-ranking legal professional, she should have maintained the utmost ethical standards and kept far away from someone with his history of sexual abuse. This is a sad end to an otherwise accomplished career.
Agreed. Her resignation was the right move for Goldman given the severity of these revelations. They need to send a clear message that this type of conduct is unacceptable, no matter one’s seniority or past accomplishments.
This is a concerning development. Ruemmler’s close ties to Epstein, even after his conviction, raise serious questions about judgment and propriety. It’s troubling to see such a high-profile legal figure have these types of undisclosed personal connections with a convicted sex offender.
Agreed. The emails revealing the extent of their relationship are quite damning. Goldman Sachs was right to accept her resignation – they need to uphold the highest ethical standards.
The revelations about Ruemmler’s ties to Epstein are very troubling. As a senior legal executive, she should have maintained the highest standards of professionalism and kept her distance from someone with his sordid history. Goldman made the right call in accepting her resignation.
The fact that Ruemmler maintained such a close personal relationship with Epstein, even after his conviction, is very troubling. As a senior legal executive, she should have known better and upheld much stricter boundaries. This reflects very poorly on her judgment and integrity.
Definitely. Ruemmler’s actions call into question her fitness to serve in such a prominent legal role. Goldman made the right call in accepting her resignation to preserve the firm’s reputation.