Goldman CLO Kathy Ruemmler to resign June 30 after DOJ Epstein files

Kathy Ruemmler, Goldman Sachs’ chief legal officer and general counsel, is resigning effective June 30, 2026, after the release of unsealed U.S. Department of Justice files that contain communications tying her to Jeffrey Epstein. The DOJ materials, made public this month, include emails and other records that show Ruemmler accepted gifts from Epstein and offered him advice about responding to media questions about his crimes.

The documents portray a range of personal and advisory interactions. Email excerpts in the files use affectionate nicknames for Epstein, including references to him as “Uncle Jeffrey” and as an “older brother” in different exchanges, and other correspondence described closeness between the two. Two law-enforcement notes cited in the documents indicate Epstein called Ruemmler’s cell phone on the night he was arrested on July 6, 2019. The DOJ release also included a photographed form showing Epstein on an inmate report from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Ruemmler acknowledged the impact of publicity in a statement to the Financial Times, saying, “I made the determination that the media attention on me, relating to my prior work as a defence attorney, was becoming a distraction.” Prior to her decision to step down, she had sought to distance herself from the emails and had been defiant that she would not resign from the post she has held since 2021.

Goldman Sachs’ chief executive, David Solomon, issued a lengthy statement praising Ruemmler’s tenure and acknowledging the resignation. Solomon said, “Throughout her tenure, Kathy has been an extraordinary general counsel, and we are grateful for her contributions and sound advice on a wide range of consequential legal matters for the firm. 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. I accepted her resignation, and I respect her decision.” A Goldman spokesperson added that Ruemmler “regrets ever knowing him.”

Ruemmler joined Goldman Sachs in 2020 as global head of regulatory affairs and was promoted to chief legal officer and general counsel in 2021. Her prior roles include serving as White House counsel during the Obama administration and working as a litigation partner at Latham & Watkins for almost six years before joining the bank.

The revelations and Ruemmler’s exit come amid wider fallout tied to the unsealed Epstein files, which have prompted scrutiny of other high-profile figures and led to resignations and probes in multiple countries. Contemporaneous developments noted in the files and reporting include the resignation of a senior UK official, Chris Wormald, announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Norwegian police searching properties linked to former prime minister Thorbjorn Jagland as part of separate investigations into ties with Epstein.

Ruemmler’s resignation will take effect June 30, 2026, and Goldman has accepted her decision as the firm moves to manage the reputational and legal scrutiny arising from the DOJ disclosures.