Former Goldman Sachs chief legal officer Kathryn Ruemmler informed Congress on Wednesday that Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, was a "masterful liar" who exploited her to "legitimize" himself. Ruemmler, who resigned from her position at Goldman Sachs earlier this year after her communications with Epstein became public, testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Ruemmler stated that her continued dealings with Epstein over several years were driven by business relationships he facilitated. She acknowledged that he referred paying clients to her law practice, though she maintained that Epstein was never her client. Ruemmler also expressed regret, saying, "If I knew then what I know now about who Epstein really was, I never would have accepted an initial meeting with him. It was a mistake to deal with him, and I regret it."
Her testimony provided a detailed account of how her relationship with Epstein began and persisted after she left the Obama White House to return to private practice. Epstein first contacted her in July 2014, shortly after she joined Latham & Watkins, pitching a donor-advised fund involving Bill Gates and seeking legal counsel. Although this project did not materialize, Epstein subsequently referred another financial institution client to her. This client retained her services through 2020, with Epstein remaining a primary adviser to the institution.
According to Ruemmler, the unnamed financial institution was Bank Edmond de Rothschild, which Epstein allegedly brought to her attention by mentioning the bank had a "Justice Department problem" related to a U.S. crackdown on Swiss banks. Ruemmler also stated that Epstein referred additional clients and occasionally sought her legal advice.
Ruemmler explained her belief in Epstein's account of his 2008 Florida sex-crime case, stating it appeared consistent with the prosecution's resolution at the time. She clarified that she "did not endorse or excuse the conduct for which Epstein had pleaded guilty in 2008." She understood he had pleaded guilty to offenses involving a minor but claimed he told her he had not knowingly solicited underage individuals and expressed remorse. Ruemmler also reviewed a letter from one of Epstein's attorneys, which she believed at the time corroborated his account and reinforced her belief that prosecutors would have pursued more serious charges if they had evidence of intentional targeting of minors.
Her communications with Epstein ceased in July 2019, following his indictment on federal sex-trafficking charges. Ruemmler described being "shocked" by these charges, as they contradicted her understanding of his earlier conduct.
Ruemmler acknowledged receiving gifts from Epstein but asserted that she did not solicit them, did not need them, and did not consider them particularly personal or consequential. She stated that she declined some gifts and that they never influenced her interactions with him. She also contended that many of her emails with Epstein have been "taken out of context" and described their exchanges as casual and informal.
Concluding her statement, Ruemmler characterized Epstein as a "masterful liar" who "clearly lied to me." She stated, "I can see now that he used me and other respectable people to legitimize his standing." She expressed anger over the harm he caused to many people and reiterated her regret for any association with him.
Ruemmler's career includes service as White House counsel under President Barack Obama and her role as global head of regulatory affairs before becoming chief legal officer at Goldman Sachs. Her connection to Epstein drew renewed attention after Department of Justice releases detailed years of communications, gifts, and meetings between them, leading to her resignation from Goldman Sachs and the ongoing congressional investigation.