For weeks, Goldman has faced a steady drumbeat of headlines as the public has pored over the millions of pages of documents that have been released by the
Through it all, Goldman Sachs has stood by Ruemmler, saying executives were briefed about her dealings with Epstein before she was hired, and that the two had worked together in a “professional capacity.” Ruemmler has said she regretted ever knowing him.
“My responsibility is to put Goldman Sachs’ interests first,” Ruemmler said in a statement announcing her planned departure. Chief Executive Officer
Ruemmler is among more than a half-dozen prominent leaders across business, politics and academia that have stepped down from their roles over ties to Epstein. She will leave the bank on June 30.
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Before joining Goldman in 2020, Ruemmler was well-known for her time as a
Since her connection to Epstein was first reported in 2023, Ruemmler and Goldman have repeatedly said that she used Epstein’s contacts to pursue potential legal clients during her time at Latham. Her ties to him
Messages that have emerged in the Justice Department’s trove laid bare the extent of her relationship with Epstein, a notorious sex criminal who pleaded guilty in 2008 to Florida state charges that included procurement of a minor to engage in prostitution. He died by apparent suicide in jail while facing federal sex-trafficking charges in 2019.
For instance,
While Goldman
She offered her thoughts in 2015 when Epstein asked her questions about the legalities surrounding prostitution and consent. Around that time, multiple women were suing the federal government over Epstein’s 2008 plea agreement. “no girl caem to the house to learn math, does sex for money change the equation, ?” he wrote. Ruemmler responded that minors “could not legally consent to engaging in prostitution.”
Even as the revelations reached a fever pitch this week, Ruemmler seemed to still have the support of Solomon. In November, the CEO called her “an excellent lawyer” when asked if he expected further fallout from her past with Epstein. More recently, a Goldman Sachs spokesperson said the bank had done due diligence about her ties to Epstein and “was satisfied.”
“Kathy has been an extraordinary general counsel,” Solomon said in his statement Thursday. “As one of the most accomplished professionals in her field, Kathy has also been a mentor and friend to many of our people, and she will be missed.”
On Friday, he said on CNBC that she is a “tremendous human being” and said Ruemmler herself had come to the decision that the situation had become a distraction for the firm.
“It was putting her in a position where it was hard for her to execute on her job and her responsibilities, and she just thought it was time to step away,” Solomon said. “I reluctantly accepted her resignation, but I respect her decision.”
The disclosure of the files relating to Epstein was required by a law passed by Congress last year, following bipartisan pressure from lawmakers, victims and activists. The material contains references to wealthy and powerful people who had associations with Epstein at various points. Inclusion in the documents isn’t an indication of wrongdoing.
The scandal has ensnared other high-profile individuals on Wall Street and elsewhere, including attorney
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(Updates with comments from Goldman’s CEO in 15th paragraph.)
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Lulu Yilun Chen, Jonas Bergman
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