A powerful voice inside Goldman Sachs has gone quiet.
Kathryn Ruemmler, the Wall Street giant’s chief legal officer and one of its most senior executives, has resigned after newly disclosed U.S. Justice Department records revealed her past interactions with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The documents detail years of communication between Ruemmler and Epstein, stretching from 2014 to 2019 — well after his 2008 guilty plea involving charges related to a minor. The records show that she accepted luxury gifts from him and offered guidance on handling media scrutiny tied to his legal troubles.
Her exit, confirmed by CEO David Solomon, marks one of the most high-profile departures in banking since the latest tranche of Epstein-related files became public. Ruemmler’s resignation is set to take effect at the end of June.
In a statement, Solomon described her as an accomplished professional and mentor, adding that he respected her decision to step aside.
The Emails and the Gifts
The Justice Department disclosures include private emails in which Ruemmler referred to Epstein as “Uncle Jeffrey.” She thanked him for gifts — including wine, a handbag, boots, and a luxury Apple Watch band. In one exchange, she specified a preference for a Hermès model.
The documents also indicate she advised Epstein in 2019 on responding to media questions about whether his connections had earned him special legal treatment.
On the night of his July 2019 arrest, Epstein reportedly made several phone calls, including one to Ruemmler’s cellphone. A law enforcement note quoted him asking whether the arrest concerned sex trafficking or underage conduct. Epstein died the following month in a Manhattan jail cell; the city’s medical examiner ruled it a suicide.
Ruemmler’s Defense
Ruemmler has maintained that her relationship with Epstein was strictly professional. She said she interacted with him in her capacity as a defense attorney and had no knowledge of any ongoing criminal conduct. The resurfaced emails, she argued, were unrelated to her work at Goldman.
Before joining Goldman Sachs, Ruemmler held senior roles in private practice and served as White House counsel during the Obama administration, positioning her as one of the most prominent legal figures in American corporate life.
Wider Fallout
The newly released records have once again cast a harsh light on Epstein’s connections across finance, politics and academia. Other financial institutions have faced scrutiny over past dealings tied to Epstein or his associates, underscoring how long the shadow of the scandal continues to stretch.
For Goldman Sachs, the episode closes a chapter at the top of its legal ranks — but the broader reckoning around Epstein’s network shows little sign of fading.
