Executives at Goldman Sachs are pushing back against claims that they were secretly devising plans to dismiss their general counsel due to her longstanding friendship with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was a convicted sex offender.
John Rogers, a key figure at Goldman known for his connections in Washington, emphasized that he was working on a smooth transition for Kathryn Ruemmler, the company’s lead attorney, who has close ties to CEO David Solomon.
“This is completely untrue,” Mr. Rogers stated regarding the dismissal rumors, adding that he hired Ruemmler around seven years ago at the firm’s headquarters.
Ruemmler, who previously served under the Obama administration, became a target of scrutiny in 2023 over her association with Epstein, as reported by the Journal.
Details about her connections to Epstein surfaced last year when lawmakers released communications revealing frequent exchanges between the two.
These exchanges reportedly triggered concern within Goldman Sachs.
Messages disclosed by Congress in November highlighted a personal rapport that some executives felt strayed beyond what had been presented during her hiring.
In one exchange from January 2018, Ruemmler informed Epstein about her new housing, to which he responded, “Great.”
There are also instances showing Ruemmler discussing significant career decisions with Epstein. For instance, in 2014, when contemplating running for U.S. attorney general, she mentioned financial concerns, stating she had signed a one-year lease, costing $11,000 per month. Epstein advised her to consult with then-President Obama.
Travel preferences and details about comfort also came up in their discussions. In one message, Ruemmler asked Epstein if it was necessary to travel first class to Dubai or if business class would suffice for sleeping, to which Epstein responded that business was adequate and even offered to use his private jet.
When Ruemmler joined Goldman, she did acknowledge her relationship with Epstein, though she didn’t disclose critical aspects like the frequency of their meetings or his role as backup executor of Epstein’s will, as per a senior executive’s comments to the Journal.
While her name was removed from the will before Epstein’s passing in August 2019, she has never taken on the role of executor.
CEO Solomon reiterated support for Ruemmler, stating, “Kathy is an excellent legal advisor, and we benefit from her advice every day.” He added that she has the support of both management and the board.
Ruemmler has explained that her professional link with Epstein stemmed from her role as a criminal defense attorney. She clarified, “My job was to work with people and companies who had serious legal and public relations issues.” She expressed regret about knowing Epstein, emphasizing sympathy for his victims.
A spokesperson for Goldman noted that Ruemmler had been transparent regarding her connection to Epstein upon her hiring, asserting that the appropriate executives were informed about her previous dealings and had no concerns about her past legal work.
“Nobody involved in hiring Kathy had any concerns about her previous legal work,” he stated.
