Kathryn Ruemmler, the former chief legal officer at Goldman Sachs and previously White House counsel under President Barack Obama, is slated to testify before the U.S. House Oversight Committee. This testimony concerns her extensive relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as revealed by recently released Justice Department documents. These documents show Ruemmler accepted gifts from Epstein and advised him on media inquiries related to his crimes, years after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Ruemmler's upcoming appearance follows her resignation from Goldman Sachs in February, with her departure finalized at the end of June. Despite her resignation as Chief Legal Officer, she remains with Goldman Sachs in an advisory role as senior counsel, a decision that has drawn criticism from members of Congress, including Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who questioned the bank's due diligence. CEO David Solomon had announced her resignation earlier this year.
The House Oversight Committee's bipartisan inquiry into Epstein's network of powerful connections has already included testimony from prominent figures such as Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and former President Bill Clinton. Ruemmler is the 17th individual to testify as part of this broader investigation, which seeks to understand how Epstein's influence may have shielded him from scrutiny. Lawmakers, including Rep. Ro Khanna, plan to question her about her knowledge of individuals connected to Epstein's criminal activities.
Documents highlighted that Ruemmler and Epstein's relationship extended beyond formal legal work, including personal emails and social plans. She reportedly referred to him as "Uncle Jeffrey" in emails and expressed adoration for him, despite later calling him a "monster." The records even show Epstein attempted to call Ruemmler on July 6, 2019, the day he was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges. Her spokesperson has stated she welcomed the opportunity to appear before the committee and maintained she did nothing improper and was unaware of any ongoing criminal activity by Epstein.
