Goldman Sachs chief legal officer and general counsel Kathryn Ruemmler (pictured) has resigned from her position following the recent revelations over her ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Ruemmler, who joined Goldman in 2020 and was promoted to GC a year later, has faced renewed scrutiny as the extent of her relationship with the convicted sex offender was brought to light in the latest release of the Epstein files.
She is also a former partner at Latham & Watkins, where she led the white-collar defence and investigations practice, and also previously worked in the White House as counsel to President Barack Obama.
On Ruemmler’s departure, Goldman Sachs CEO, David Solomon, said: ‘Throughout her tenure, Kathy has been an extraordinary general counsel, and we are grateful for her contributions and sound advice on a wide range of consequential legal matters for the firm.
‘As one of the most accomplished professionals in her field, Kathy has also been a mentor and friend to many of our people, and she will be missed. I accepted her resignation, and I respect her decision.’
Ruemmler will step down at the end of June.
As scrutiny over her role mounted in recent days, Solomon had expressed his support for Ruemmler, describing her in a statement as ‘an excellent general counsel, saying she was ‘widely respected and admired at the firm’ adding that she ‘has always had the support of the entire leadership team and the board.’
The statements came after the latest release of Epstein files revealed extensive contact between Ruemmler and Epstein.
After a Christmas Day 2015 message in which Epstein asked his assistant to organise a trip for her, Ruemmler wrote in a subsequent email: ‘Jeffrey is just being wonderful Jeffrey… I adore him. It’s like having an older brother!’
The files also revealed that Ruemmler had reviewed a draft article in 2018, which was never published, but which Epstein was considering submitting as an op-ed to the Washington Post.
The article defended the plea deal that Epstein had struck with prosecutors in 2008, which saw him serve less than 13 months in custody after being convicted of procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute.
Ruemmler also messaged Epstein in March 2019, a few months before his arrest and subsequent death in custody, saying ‘I am worried about you’, adding ‘will need to throw real money at the problem.’
Documents are being periodically released by the US Department of Justice following the passing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act at the end of last year.
Ruemmler’s resignation comes shortly after it was announced last week that long-serving Paul Weiss chair Brad Karp would be stepping down from his leadership position at the firm after his communications with Epstein were also brought to light. He remains a partner at the firm.
