Goldman Sachs on Thursday firmly supported its top lawyer, Kathryn "Kathy" Ruemmler, after a congressional committee released private emails she exchanged with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before joining the investment bank.
The emails, which date from 2014 to 2019, show Ruemmler, a former White House counsel under President Barack Obama, discussing a variety of public figures and topics with Epstein, including former President Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, and other high-profile individuals.
In one 2015 message, Ruemmler wrote, "Trump is living proof of the adage that it is better to be lucky than smart," highlighting her candid views on political events of the time, BusinessInsider reported.
Epstein, who was awaiting trial on federal child sex trafficking charges when he died in 2019, frequently exchanged messages with Ruemmler, sometimes seeking her perspective on current events, technology, or potential introductions to influential contacts.
Some emails also show Ruemmler seeking minor personal advice, such as her preference for business class travel on Emirates Airlines.
Among the many powerful people not sleeping well tonight has to be Goldman Sachs Counsel and super lawyer Kathy Reummler, all over the emails.
— Nina Burleigh (@ninaburleigh) November 13, 2025
Here's Jeff suggesting she can tell Melinda Gates what a great guy he is. #EpsteinTrumpFiles pic.twitter.com/d0ABv3CVHu
Goldman Sachs Defends Kathryn Ruemmler
Goldman Sachs quickly defended its general counsel, emphasizing that the correspondence occurred years before Ruemmler joined the bank in 2020.
"These emails were private correspondence well before Kathy Ruemmler joined Goldman Sachs," spokesman Tony Fratto told CNBC. "Kathy is an exceptional general counsel and we benefit from her judgment every day."
Ruemmler's communications with Epstein occurred while she was a partner at the law firm Latham & Watkins, where she chaired the White Collar Defense and Investigations practice.
Goldman has stated that Epstein was never a client of the firm and that Ruemmler's interactions were professional, even though some emails appear personal or informal in tone.
The House Oversight Committee released the emails this week, sparking renewed scrutiny of Ruemmler's relationship with Epstein.
Ruemmler has previously said she regrets knowing Epstein. "I regret ever knowing Jeffrey Epstein," she told The Wall Street Journal in 2023.
While some of the exchanges are lighthearted or candid, there is no evidence in the emails that Ruemmler had any knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities.
Legal experts note that her high-profile career, including her tenure as White House counsel and potential consideration for US Attorney General, placed her in positions where professional contacts with influential figures were common.
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