Even Goldman Sachs’s top legal counsel, Kathy Ruemmler, consulted Jeffrey Epstein on critical professional choices. According to recently released emails, Ruemmler sought Epstein’s help to secure a high-level position at Facebook just months before the sex offender’s final arrest, and she advised him on how to handle press coverage of his crimes. The evidence suggests that Epstein assisted her in negotiations for senior roles at both Facebook and Google, dictating the salary levels she should demand and exerting behind-the-scenes pressure on her behalf while providing a stream of luxury gifts and perks.
The revelations contradict previous characterizations of their relationship as "strictly professional" and raise serious questions about the judgment and role of one of Wall Street’s most powerful legal figures. According to new documents released by the US Department of Justice, Epstein provided extensive guidance to Ruemmler as she pursued a senior post at Facebook between June 2018 and April 2019. The convicted financier drafted communications to Facebook’s then-COO Sheryl Sandberg on Ruemmler’s behalf, recommended compensation targets, and lobbied Sandberg’s mentor, Lawrence Summers, to support her candidacy.
Ruemmler’s path to Goldman Sachs
Ruemmler joined Goldman Sachs in 2020, having previously served as White House counsel under the Obama administration. During her period of frequent contact with Epstein, she was a partner at the law firm Latham & Watkins. The message logs also show that Ruemmler forwarded emails to Epstein regarding a romantic relationship she appeared to be having with a married associate; Epstein reassured her that she was "doing nothing wrong." This ongoing correspondence challenges the bank’s initial claim that Ruemmler’s ties were limited to client development and professional networking.
The nature of the relationship has triggered internal scrutiny at Goldman regarding Ruemmler’s judgment, given her position as one of the bank’s primary gatekeepers. As the head of legal strategy, she sits on senior committees overseeing Goldman’s reputation and ethics. The sheer volume of contact—including thousands of messages exchanged between 2014 and 2019—highlights a level of personal intimacy that has unsettled observers of the bank's corporate governance.
High-end gifts and benefits
Ruemmler’s name appears thousands of times in the Epstein files released by the Department of Justice, appearing in appointments, call logs, and email threads. Scattered throughout these communications are mentions of luxury items including a Hermès bag, Apple products, spa visits, haircuts, and airfare. "I am fully equipped by Uncle Jeffrey today! Jeffrey boots, bag, and watch!" she wrote in an email dated January 2019, suggesting a relationship that went far beyond typical professional boundaries.
Goldman Sachs stands by Ruemmler
Ruemmler arrived at Goldman in 2020 as global head of regulatory affairs and was promoted to general counsel the following year. The correspondence demonstrates the depth of the support she enjoys at the top of the firm, where she is one of the most senior women in an organization with a controversial record of retaining female talent. Despite the emerging details of her close ties to Epstein, she continues to receive backing from senior management.
Goldman CEO David Solomon told CNBC in December that Ruemmler is an "outstanding lawyer" and that the organization relies on her guidance daily. Ruemmler’s compensation for 2024 totaled $22.5 million. In a regulatory filing last month, it was revealed that she sold approximately one-third of her Goldman shares, a transaction valued at nearly $9 million.
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