Former Goldman Sachs chief legal officer Kathryn Ruemmler told members of a U.S. congressional committee that she would have immediately informed law enforcement if she had known Jeffrey Epstein was abusing women or girls, insisting she never witnessed any indication of criminal conduct during the period she interacted with him.
Ruemmler appeared before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform as part of its ongoing investigation into Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Her appearance follows renewed scrutiny after Justice Department records revealed she had maintained extensive communications with Epstein and accepted gifts from him.
In an opening statement released publicly ahead of the closed-door session, Ruemmler maintained that her dealings with Epstein never exposed her to evidence of ongoing misconduct.
“I did not see any evidence of criminal behavior or misconduct while I knew him,” she said, adding that any knowledge of abuse would have prompted her to contact law enforcement without hesitation.
The controversy has also reignited questions over Goldman Sachs’ decision to retain Ruemmler in an advisory capacity after she stepped down as the bank’s chief legal officer at the end of June. Chief Executive David Solomon previously said she would continue serving as senior counsel until a successor is appointed.
Her continued association with the Wall Street giant has drawn criticism from lawmakers. Democratic Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi and Senator Elizabeth Warren recently pressed both Goldman Sachs and Ruemmler for explanations regarding her ongoing role at the firm.
Following several hours of testimony, Democratic members of the oversight committee questioned the credibility of her responses. Representative Robert Garcia argued that Ruemmler appeared reluctant to fully acknowledge the nature of her relationship with Epstein, noting that the interview was conducted without testimony under oath.
Goldman Sachs declined to comment on the proceedings.
Addressing her interactions with Epstein, Ruemmler said she met him after he introduced one of his financial institution clients to her. She stressed that he was never her client personally and said she regretted ever engaging with him.
According to Ruemmler, the information now publicly available about Epstein bears little resemblance to what she believed at the time.
“If I had known then what I know today, I never would have agreed to meet him,” she said, describing the decision as a mistake she deeply regrets.
She also responded to questions about gifts she received from Epstein, saying they held little significance and were accepted only because she saw no reason to refuse them. She added that some gifts were declined and insisted they never influenced her professional conduct or judgment.
Ruemmler characterized Epstein as “a masterful liar,” claiming he frequently overstated the closeness of their relationship to enhance his own reputation.
She said all communication with Epstein ended in July 2019 after federal prosecutors charged him with sex trafficking minors. Those allegations, she explained, fundamentally changed her understanding of his past and prompted her to sever all contact.
Ruemmler further argued that several of her emails exchanged with Epstein have been interpreted without proper context, disputing suggestions made about the nature of their correspondence.
Before joining Goldman Sachs, Ruemmler worked at Latham & Watkins and previously served as White House counsel during the Barack Obama administration.
The House committee’s broader investigation into Epstein has included interviews with several prominent figures from politics and business, including former President Bill Clinton, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
