BY MIRABEL ODETA
Goldman Sachs Chief Legal Officer Kathy Ruemmler has resigned following the release of newly disclosed documents by the U.S. Justice Department that revealed she accepted gifts from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and advised him on handling media scrutiny related to his criminal allegations. Chief Executive Officer David Solomon announced her departure on Thursday, confirming that he had accepted her resignation.
Ruemmler, one of the most senior executives at the Wall Street powerhouse, is the highest-profile banking figure to step down since the latest batch of Epstein-related records was made public last month. The disclosures have intensified scrutiny across the financial industry, shedding new light on relationships between major institutions and Epstein even after his prior criminal conviction.
In a statement, Solomon praised Ruemmler’s professional achievements and influence within the firm. He described her as an accomplished leader, mentor, and trusted colleague whose presence would be missed. At the same time, he acknowledged her decision to step down amid mounting public attention.
According to a person familiar with the matter, Ruemmler informed Solomon of her intention to resign on Thursday. Her departure is set to take effect on June 30. The individual spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.
The newly unsealed Justice Department documents detail communications between Ruemmler and Epstein spanning several years, from 2014 through 2019. The records show that their exchanges continued well after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea in Florida for procuring a minor for prostitution. During that period, Ruemmler allegedly provided advice on how Epstein should respond to media inquiries in 2019 concerning claims that he had received unusually favorable legal treatment because of his powerful connections.
In previously reported comments to the Financial Times, Ruemmler said she concluded that the renewed focus on her past legal representation of Epstein had become a distraction. She maintained that her relationship with him was strictly professional and rooted in her role as a defense attorney.
Before joining Goldman Sachs, Ruemmler served as global chair of the white-collar defense and investigations practice at Latham & Watkins LLP. She also held a prominent public role as White House counsel under former President Barack Obama, further elevating her stature within legal and political circles.
The documents reveal that Ruemmler referred to Epstein in emails as “Uncle Jeffrey” and accepted gifts from him, including wine, a handbag, and luxury accessories. In one 2018 exchange, a third party informed her that Epstein wanted to purchase a band for her Apple Watch. She responded enthusiastically, expressing interest in a Hermès model and specifying her preferred size and color. In another 2019 message, she thanked Epstein for additional gifts, writing that she had been “totally tricked out” with boots, a handbag, and a watch.
The disclosures also reference events surrounding Epstein’s arrest on July 6, 2019. Documents citing law enforcement notes indicate that Epstein attempted to call Ruemmler’s cellphone the night he was taken into custody on federal sex trafficking charges. A separate note attributed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation recorded Epstein making anxious statements about the severity of the charges, including asking whether the case involved sex trafficking and underage victims.
Epstein was arrested in July 2019 and later died in a Manhattan jail cell the following month. The New York City chief medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. His case triggered widespread public outrage and ongoing investigations into his network of powerful associates across politics, finance, and academia.
The fallout from the latest document release has extended beyond Goldman Sachs. Other major institutions have also faced renewed questions about past dealings connected to Epstein and his associates. Recent disclosures indicated that UBS opened accounts in 2014 for Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, only months after JPMorgan Chase ended its relationship with Epstein.
In a prior statement responding to scrutiny, Ruemmler said she had no knowledge of any ongoing criminal conduct by Epstein during the time she represented him and insisted she did not know him as he would later be portrayed publicly. She argued that decade-old private emails were being selectively highlighted and had no connection to her responsibilities at Goldman Sachs.
Her resignation marks a significant leadership change at one of the world’s most influential financial institutions and underscores the continued reputational and legal ripple effects stemming from Epstein’s long-standing ties to powerful figures and organizations.
Original article
Comments