Kathy Ruemmler isn’t being pushed out of Goldman Sachs, but it seems the firm is preparing for her eventual exit. According to reports, this could happen fairly soon, possibly within weeks, as the company is expected to appoint a new general counsel. Ruemmler held that position until earlier this year when she chose to step down amid controversies linked to her associations with Jeffrey Epstein, a financier infamous for his criminal activities.
Although her resignation as general counsel was effective in June, she remains with the firm as an adviser until a permanent successor is found, assisting with the search and other legal issues. Sources familiar with the situation suggest her departure will be finalized after the new GC is appointed.
The media attention surrounding Ruemmler has been ongoing since emails became public as part of the “Epstein Files,” released during the Trump administration. These documents detail Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor and subsequent legal troubles, culminating in multiple counts of child sex trafficking prior to his death in jail in 2019.
The information comprises around 3.5 million pages of correspondence among Epstein and a network of influential figures, including Ruemmler.
Before her time at Goldman, she was a corporate lawyer. At one point, a Swiss bank, for which she was working, indicated that she should consult with Epstein on legal matters, something she disclosed to Goldman during the hiring process. Yet, her friendly emails with Epstein, in which she sometimes referred to him as “Uncle Jeffrey” and accepted his unsolicited gifts, sparked significant media scrutiny.
To alleviate potential backlash for the firm, she stepped down from her post as GC in February but stayed on in an advisory role, a decision that raised some eyebrows.
In July, Ruemmler provided testimony to the House Oversight Committee regarding Epstein’s child sex-trafficking allegations and his lenient treatment by the justice system while maintaining connections with significant figures in finance and banking up until his second arrest.
Ruemmler previously served as White House counsel under President Obama and later led the white-collar defense unit at Latham & Watkins, where she first encountered Epstein. While he was not her client, he acted as a gatekeeper for an important client, the Edmond de Rothschild Group.
Emails reveal a friendly rapport between her and Epstein prior to his second arrest, and reports indicate that she turned down an offer of $30 million to represent him after his 2019 arrest.
During her testimony, she stated that she was unaware of any ongoing unlawful activities by him and described her interactions with him as typical of her professional relationships.
Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon has indicated he feels Ruemmler was unfairly portrayed negatively in the media, accepting her resignation as general counsel while asking her to continue her advisory role when an interim GC was appointed.
As sources indicate, her advisory position may soon conclude as Goldman seeks to formally appoint a new general counsel to replace the acting legal chief, Michael Bosworth.
A spokeswoman for Ruemmler declined to comment but didn’t dispute the report, and a Goldman representative also refrained from making a statement. Those familiar with her situation believe she may return to private practice, as she’s well-regarded in her field. Financially, she’s in a solid position; Goldman recently announced her $25 million compensation package for her work in 2025.
