Kathryn Ruemmler, the former chief legal officer and general counsel at Goldman Sachs, resigned Thursday after newly released Department of Justice documents revealed a significantly deeper relationship with convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein than she had previously acknowledged.
Ruemmler, who previously served as White House counsel under President Barack Obama, had long maintained that her relationship with Epstein was strictly professional. However, communications included in the Justice Department’s latest release — a trove of more than 3 million pages of Epstein-related documents — painted a far different picture.
The newly disclosed messages show Ruemmler accepted gifts from Epstein, discussed her romantic life with him, and offered guidance on how he should respond to mounting media scrutiny over abuse allegations. The revelations have triggered widespread media attention and renewed scrutiny over Epstein’s powerful network of associates.
One particular message drew intense focus in recent weeks. In correspondence with a colleague, Ruemmler referred to Epstein as “Uncle Jeffrey,” a phrase that quickly ignited headlines and fueled questions about the true nature of their relationship.
For years, Ruemmler publicly characterized her interactions with Epstein as purely professional. The documents now released by the Department of Justice, however, suggest that the connection extended well beyond formal or transactional exchanges. The communications depict a level of familiarity that appears to contradict her previous assertions.
Epstein, a financier who was convicted of sex crimes, has remained at the center of controversy even after his death, largely due to his extensive connections with political leaders, corporate executives, and other influential figures. The latest document release has once again cast a spotlight on individuals who had contact with him, raising fresh concerns about judgment and transparency among members of the elite class.
In a statement confirming her resignation, Ruemmler said, “My responsibility is to put Goldman Sachs’s interests first.” Her departure comes as the investment banking giant seeks to distance itself from the fallout surrounding the newly revealed communications.
Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon acknowledged her exit in a brief statement, saying Ruemmler “will be missed.”
“I accepted her resignation, and I respect her decision,” Solomon added.
Ruemmler’s resignation marks a significant development for Goldman Sachs, where she held one of the firm’s most powerful legal positions. As chief legal officer and general counsel, she was responsible for overseeing legal matters at one of the world’s largest financial institutions.
The disclosure of the communications — part of the Justice Department’s sweeping release of Epstein-related records — has intensified public interest in who knew what about the disgraced financier and when. While the documents do not allege new criminal conduct by Ruemmler, the tone and substance of the exchanges have prompted questions about the appropriateness of her past statements.
The episode underscores how the Epstein scandal continues to reverberate through the highest levels of business and politics. Even years after his conviction, the ripple effects from his associations are still being felt.
With her resignation now official, Goldman Sachs faces the task of moving forward amid renewed scrutiny — and the broader debate over accountability among those who once maintained close ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
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