Goldman Sachs' top lawyer, Kathryn Ruemmler, has announced she will step down from her role after months of pressure over her friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Emails disclosed by the US justice department show she referred to the disgraced financier in emails as Uncle Jeffrey, advised him on how to push back against media scrutiny, and accepted luxury gifts from him.
My responsibility is to put Goldman Sachs' interests first, Ruemmler, who previously served as White House counsel to former US President Barack Obama, stated in her resignation announcement.
Goldman CEO David Solomon expressed gratitude for her sound advice and emphasized her importance as a mentor within the firm. Ruemmler's resignation will take effect from June 30.
There is no suggestion that her associations with Epstein imply criminal wrongdoing, but the revelations posed a public relations challenge for Goldman Sachs, where Ruemmler led its reputational risk committee. Ruemmler joined Goldman in 2020.
Throughout her tenure, Ruemmler faced scrutiny as communications revealed extensive correspondence with Epstein from 2014 to 2019. In some instances, she wrote about him affectionately, referring to him as an older brother. Despite her claims of ignorance about Epstein's criminal conduct, the ongoing disclosures prompted her resignation as part of a broader fallout from Epstein's legacy.
Recent disclosures, including emails and notes related to Epstein’s arrest, have implicated several notable figures, leading to significant corporate changes in their respective organizations. Ruemmler's departure signifies a continued reckoning with the Epstein scandal in high-profile circles.
