Goldman Sachs is backing its general counsel, Kathy Ruemmler, following the release of emails that show she often criticized President Trump while seeking career advice from convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
This defense came after the House Oversight Committee disclosed her communications with Epstein. The emails, spanning from 2014 to 2019, reveal some revealing exchanges.
Ruemmler joined Goldman Sachs in 2020 and has since held a significant role as the company’s top lawyer, also serving as vice chair of the Corporate Reputation Risk Committee.
Previously, some Goldman bankers expressed concerns to senior management about Ruemmler’s ties to Epstein, considering her influential position on the committee responsible for client relationships. Reports indicate that Goldman officials assured these employees that her prior relationship with Epstein was not an issue for her work at the firm and that she had been transparent about it when she was hired.
“Kathy is an extraordinary general counsel, and we benefit from her judgment every day,” stated a Goldman spokesman to CNBC.
Ruemmler, who advised during the Obama administration, often shared her views with Epstein regarding Trump’s political ascent. In one email from August 2015, she commented, “Mr. Trump is living proof of the adage that it is better to be lucky than smart.” Her concerns about Trump’s increasing popularity surfaced in various messages, leading her to label his success as “truly frightening” and to express frustration, calling him “really stupid” in July 2017 while previously describing him as “so awful.”
Epstein’s reply to her concerns was chilling: “It’s worse in real life and up close.”
The emails also show that Ruemmler consulted Epstein on career moves, including a consideration for the U.S. attorney general role back in 2014. When a rival law firm attempted to recruit her, she reached out to Epstein for advice, as she did when hunting for an apartment in Manhattan.
The communications surfaced as part of the House Oversight Committee’s investigation, stemming from Epstein’s estate posthumously after he pleaded guilty to related charges in 2008. He committed suicide in his cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.
In October 2014, Ruemmler discussed the possibility of succeeding Eric Holder as Attorney General. Epstein suggested she speak to her boss about this, even offering to connect her with influential figures.
After ultimately withdrawing her candidacy, Ruemmler continued with the law firm Latham & Watkins, focusing on white-collar defense.
Notably, in these emails, Ruemmler and Epstein also shared comments about public figures, including former President Bill Clinton and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg.
Goldman Sachs stated that Ruemmler’s relationship with Epstein was strictly professional, though Latham clarified that Epstein had never been a client.
Ruemmler did not respond to requests for comment as the matter continues to draw attention.
