Kathryn Ruemmler, previously the general counsel at Goldman Sachs, provided testimony in a confidential congressional hearing concerning Jeffrey Epstein. Her remarks were delivered on Wednesday to the House Oversight Committee.
Ms. Ruemmler described Epstein, whom she knew for six years, as a “masterful liar.” She stated that during their association, she observed no indications that he was mistreating women or girls. Despite this, she admitted she once offered him advice, accepted his gifts, and sometimes exchanged informal emails with him.
In her opening statement, Ms. Ruemmler acknowledged the manipulation by Epstein, noting his tendency to exaggerate the nature of their relationship to others. “I can see now that he used me and other respectable people to legitimize his standing,” she explained. Her statement was obtained by The New York Times.
Ms. Ruemmler’s career was notably affected by her linkage to Epstein. In February, she stepped down from her role at Goldman Sachs, where she earned $25 million annually. This followed a public release of emails by the Justice Department that unveiled a deeper, more personal connection with Epstein than was initially known. The emails displayed interactions that were social and friendly, including advice given to him regarding past accusations which led to his 2008 guilty plea in Florida.
She shared that her association with Epstein commenced in the summer of 2014. At that time, she transitioned from serving as the White House counsel in the Obama administration to joining Latham & Watkins as part of their white-collar defense team.