Scandal: Goldman’s Top Lawyer RESIGNS

Goldman Sachs’ top lawyer has resigned after newly released DOJ files exposed her cozy relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, revealing affectionate emails that starkly contradict her claims of purely professional contact.

Story Snapshot

Kathryn Ruemmler, Obama’s former White House counsel and Goldman’s general counsel, resigned effective June 30 after Epstein documents detailed her friendly ties with the convicted predator from 2014-2019
Released emails show Ruemmler calling Epstein “older brother,” “Uncle Jeffrey,” and “sweetie,” contradicting her insistence that their relationship was strictly professional
The resignation marks the second high-profile legal exit in recent weeks, following Paul, Weiss chairman Brad Karp’s departure over similar Epstein connections
Ruemmler co-chaired Goldman’s reputational risk committee while maintaining close personal contact with Epstein after his 2008 prostitution conviction

Elite Connections Exposed in DOJ Documents

The U.S. Department of Justice released damning Epstein files in late January and early February under congressional pressure, exposing extensive communications between Ruemmler and the deceased sex trafficker. Documents revealed that Ruemmler maintained contact with Epstein throughout his 2014-2019 period, well after his 2008 Florida conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. The files included email exchanges showing Ruemmler referring to Epstein in affectionate terms, accepting flight offers, and even appearing in his calendar for a 2018 “Glam Squad” appointment. These revelations directly undermine her previous statements characterizing the relationship as strictly professional, raising serious questions about judgment and accountability among political and financial elites.

Obama Administration Ties Create Political Fallout

Ruemmler served as White House counsel under President Barack Obama from 2011 to 2014 and held various Department of Justice positions from 2009 to 2011 before joining private practice. Her elite credentials made her a prized hire for Goldman Sachs in 2020 as chief legal officer. However, the Epstein files documented that during her time at Latham & Watkins after leaving the Obama administration, she arranged a White House tour for Woody Allen through Epstein in 2015, exchanged career advice with the convicted criminal, and discussed Trump administration matters. Epstein even listed her as a backup executor for his will and called her shortly after his 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges. This pattern reveals how deep Democratic establishment figures maintained troubling connections with a known predator, prioritizing elite social circles over basic moral standards.

Reputational Risk Committee Chair’s Stunning Hypocrisy

The irony of Ruemmler’s situation cannot be overstated: she co-chaired Goldman Sachs’ reputational risk committee while maintaining friendly relations with perhaps the most toxic figure in modern American scandal. The emails show Ruemmler sending birthday wishes to Epstein’s “one true love” and receiving advice on image management and legal strategy. In one exchange, she reportedly sent a lewd reply that further contradicts professional boundaries. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon initially supported Ruemmler when earlier revelations surfaced, but the latest document dump containing more explicit evidence of personal friendship proved untenable. Her February 12 resignation announcement to CBS News, accepted by Solomon with praise for her as “extraordinary,” reflects damage control rather than accountability for compromised judgment at the highest levels of finance.

Wall Street Pattern of Elite Impunity Continues

Ruemmler’s departure follows a disturbing pattern on Wall Street where connections to Epstein only matter when public exposure becomes unavoidable. Brad Karp resigned as Paul, Weiss chairman just weeks earlier over similar post-2008 Epstein contacts, suggesting these relationships were widespread among elite lawyers. Despite telling the Wall Street Journal in 2023 that she regretted knowing Epstein, Ruemmler’s resignation only materialized after the DOJ released undeniable evidence of sustained, friendly contact. The financial sector’s delayed response to these connections reveals a troubling willingness to overlook serious judgment failures until media scrutiny forces action. For everyday Americans who face immediate consequences for far lesser associations, this double standard reinforces justified frustration with an elite class that operates under different rules while preaching accountability to others.