Kathy Ruemmler

Kathryn H. Ruemmler is an attorney who served as White House Counsel to President Barack Obama from 2011 to 2014, becoming his longest-serving counsel. After leaving the White House, she joined Latham & Watkins as Global Chair of the White Collar Defense and Investigations practice, and in 2020 moved to Goldman Sachs, where she currently serves as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel. The Epstein archive documents 13,794 emails exchanged between Ruemmler and Epstein's network from 2010 to 2023, though the substantive correspondence primarily spans 2014 to 2019. The emails reveal frequent meetings at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse, legal and strategic advice on media matters, career consultations, social dinners with figures including Woody Allen, and Ruemmler's designation as a trustee in a 2018 version of Epstein's trust.

Ruemmler maintained she never represented Epstein as a client, though emails and estate privilege logs document legal advice on topics including preservation of his 2008 plea deal, drafting public statements, and victim settlement discussions. She has publicly stated she regrets knowing Epstein.

Background#

Kathryn Ruemmler was born April 19, 1971, and graduated from the University of Washington and Georgetown University Law Center. She began her legal career as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, then served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York. She gained prominence as Deputy Director of the Enron Task Force, prosecuting senior executives of the energy company.

In 2009, Ruemmler joined the Obama administration as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General at the Department of Justice. She became Principal Deputy White House Counsel in January 2010, then White House Counsel in June 2011, serving until April 2014. After leaving government, she rejoined Latham & Watkins as a partner and co-chair of the firm's white-collar defense practice. In 2020, she joined Goldman Sachs as Global Head of Regulatory Affairs, and was promoted to Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel in 2021.

Following the November 2025 release of emails by the House Oversight Committee showing extensive contact with Epstein, Ruemmler faced public scrutiny. Goldman Sachs issued a statement supporting her, noting that "Epstein often offered unsolicited favors and gifts to his many business contacts" and emphasizing that Ruemmler "had a professional association with Jeffrey Epstein." In subsequent reporting, Ruemmler stated through a spokesperson: "I regret ever knowing Jeffrey Epstein."

Correspondence with Epstein#

The archive documents intensive correspondence between Ruemmler and Epstein from 2014 through May 2019, totaling 13,794 emails across 7,167 threads. Ruemmler sent 8,154 messages and received 5,590 as a direct recipient. The correspondence intensified during three distinct periods: October 2014 (career advice regarding a potential job offer), 2015-2017 (regular meetings and social interactions), and 2018-2019 (legal and strategic consultations).

Career Advice and Personal Relationship (2014-2015)

In October 2014, shortly after leaving the White House and joining Latham & Watkins, Ruemmler sought Epstein's advice regarding a job offer. In a lengthy exchange, she described the decision as a choice between declining quickly with press reporting that "I was his first choice but I declined for personal/timing reasons" or accepting "knowing that there will be significant personal/financial/reputational costs because I like a good fight, I am loyal, and I am the best person for the job". Epstein advised her to "have a face to face first" before deciding.

During this period, Ruemmler also consulted Epstein on personal matters. In September 2015, she shared details of a relationship crisis, writing at length about trust and deception. Epstein responded with advice, to which Ruemmler replied with a detailed analogy about Ken Lay's deception of Enron employees, drawing from her prosecutorial experience: "What he told the employees were flat lies, but almost all of them trusted him". The exchange demonstrated a comfort level in discussing both professional and personal matters.

The correspondence included light banter and social references. In October 2015, Ruemmler wrote: "Wearing my Jeffrey boots today. Fall is here". Epstein sent her news articles and opinion pieces on topics ranging from politics to gender pay disparities. Ruemmler shared her views on legal and political developments, including that "Quinn offered a $2 mm signing bonus today. I said not leaving Latham" in February 2019.

Legal and Strategic Advice (2014-2019)

Beginning in October 2014, Ruemmler provided Epstein with legal advice on media matters. Email threads show her reviewing and editing draft responses to press inquiries, with Epstein asking "did you look at my edits?" and Ruemmler responding that she was "Making some more tweaks". The exchanges included detailed discussion of factual claims and legal strategy.

In September 2015, Ruemmler informed Epstein: "DOJ meeting will be Sept. 23", apparently referencing official proceedings. In March 2019, after Judge Marra's ruling that federal prosecutors violated the Crime Victims' Rights Act in Epstein's 2008 plea deal, Ruemmler discussed the legal implications, noting that "Once Marra decided that SD Fla violated law, it was inevitable. Marie et al might definitely become fact witnesses if he allows a hearing". Epstein had written that someone advised him to "only focus on the legal pieces, do not try to change the perception of you too soon, chip away, legal errors, clarifications etc".

In August 2017, public relations executive Matthew Hiltzik sent Epstein a detailed media strategy outline that listed "Former White House Counsel, Kathy Ruemmler" as a potential "third party validator" alongside figures like Bill Gates, Larry Summers, and Noam Chomsky. The outline proposed presenting Epstein's story with sections on "Accepting Responsibility" and "Philanthropic Efforts."

Trust Designation

Ruemmler was named as a trustee in the Jeffrey E. Epstein 2018 Trust, dated May 8, 2018, alongside Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn. The trust document, which detailed bequests totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, designated Ruemmler with fiduciary authority over Epstein's estate. This version of the trust was later superseded by the 2019 trust, executed shortly before Epstein's death, which removed Ruemmler and instead named Boris Nikolic as backup executor. Congressional disclosures revealed that a January 2019 version of Epstein's will also listed Ruemmler as backup executor.

Travel and Paris Assistance

In July 2015, pilot Larry Visoski inquired whether "Kathy Ruemmler is travelling" on a charter flight from Paris to Geneva, asking for "her details" for passenger manifests. The context suggests possible coordination of European travel, though the thread does not confirm whether Ruemmler ultimately traveled.

In May 2019, Epstein's assistant sent an email instructing his Paris driver Valdson Cotrin to "Take Care of Kathy while in Paris now until Saturday May 18", writing: "Jeffrey requests you connect with her and drive her as needed...feed her...care for her during her stay!" The arrangement demonstrated Epstein's Paris staff being directed to provide services to Ruemmler during her travels.

Social Interactions

The correspondence documents numerous social dinners coordinated through Epstein. In September 2014, a calendar reminder scheduled "7:00pm DINNER w/Woody Allen, Soon Yi, Kathy Ruemmler, and MAYBE Peter Thiel" at Epstein's townhouse. In May 2019, Ruemmler clarified dinner plans, explaining that "Marvin and I are coming to dinner with Woody and Steve, and then after dinner Marvin and I will meet with Jeffrey to discuss legal stuff"—referring to attorney Marvin Putnam.

An October 2015 schedule described a dinner with "woody and soon yi, terje larson (oslo accord), kathy ruemmler. white house counsel for 5 years", positioning Ruemmler alongside international figures. In August 2018, a schedule listed "7:30pm DINNER w/Woody, Soon Yi, Kathy Ruemmler and Barry Sternlicht", continuing the pattern of regular social events.

In October 2016, Ruemmler wrote to Epstein's assistant about an apartment she was considering: "Jeffrey volunteered to give me his opinion on an apartment that I am looking at in Gramercy Park", asking to arrange a time for him to view the property at 78 Irving Place.

Final Meetings (May 2019)

The final documented exchanges occurred in May 2019, two months before Epstein's arrest. On May 20, Epstein's assistant asked Ruemmler: "Jeffrey will be in NY and I know you and he are 'speaking'...will you come see him tomorrow?" Ruemmler agreed to "late afternoon/early evening", and they scheduled 5:30pm on May 21. Hours before the meeting, Ruemmler canceled, writing: "Am so sorry, but my day at work has blown up, and I am not going to be able to leave the office this afternoon".

On May 20, Epstein had sent Ruemmler a cryptic message: "You in NYC? If you can't persuade them to be out front. Do we fall back to research and support- the pussy position", suggesting ongoing strategic discussions whose precise nature remains unclear from context.

Connections#

Ruemmler's correspondence intersected with multiple figures in Epstein's network. She had 569 shared emails with Lesley Groff, Epstein's longtime assistant, who coordinated most of her meetings and visits. Darren Indyke and Rich Kahn, Epstein's attorneys and estate executors, appear in 49 and 35 shared emails respectively, often regarding meeting logistics and legal matters.

Ruemmler had 40 shared emails with A. de Rothschild and regular contact with Epstein's legal team, including 34 shared emails with Martin Weinberg and 16 shared emails with Ken Starr. She also had 18 shared emails with Eva Dubin and 16 shared emails with journalist Michael Wolff.

In May 2017, Epstein's assistant invited Brad Karp, chairman of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, to "join him and Kathy Ruemmler tomorrow at the house at 5:30pm". Karp agreed to join "for about an hour" before leaving for another commitment, demonstrating coordination with other prominent attorneys in Epstein's circle.

Document References#

Beyond the email correspondence, Ruemmler appears in several categories of official documents related to Epstein's legal and financial affairs. The Jeffrey E. Epstein 2018 Trust, dated May 8, 2018, names "DARREN K. INDYKE, RICHARD D. KAHN, and KATHERYN H. RUEMMLER, as Trustees" with full fiduciary authority over assets including specific bequests totaling tens of millions of dollars to named individuals and entities. This trust superseded earlier versions and was itself superseded by the 2019 trust executed shortly before Epstein's death, which removed Ruemmler as trustee. According to congressional disclosures reported in September 2025, a January 2019 version of Epstein's will also listed Ruemmler as backup executor.

Estate privilege logs from Epstein's estate, disclosed in federal court filings and reported by CNN in January 2026, document that Ruemmler was involved in communications regarding efforts to preserve Epstein's 2008 plea deal, drafting and editing proposed public statements, editing correspondence with a U.S. senator, and discussions related to victim settlements. One entry in the privilege log shows Ruemmler emailed Epstein about a Washington Post editorial in March 2019, the day it was published. Another entry from December 2018 suggests involvement in discussions about responding to a Miami Herald investigation into Epstein's abuse of underage girls, with Epstein referring to "Kathy" in messages with journalist Michael Wolff while weighing whether to respond publicly.

Visits to Epstein Properties#

The archive documents numerous visits to Epstein's Manhattan townhouse at 9 East 71st Street:

Manhattan Townhouse

1. April 6, 2015 - 12:00pm lunch with Ruemmler and Nathan Myhrvold, followed by attendance at an unspecified meeting
2. September 13, 2014 - 7:30pm dinner with Woody Allen, with Ruemmler as invited guest
3. October 15, 2016 - 3:30pm appointment
4. May 19, 2017 - 5:30pm meeting with Brad Karp joining
5. June 14, 2017 - 2:00pm meeting with sushi lunch
6. August 2, 2017 - 4:00pm meeting at a restaurant (corner of Prince and Mott), followed by Epstein's dinner with Woody Allen
7. November 28, 2017 - 1:30-2:30pm appointment
8. April 9, 2018 - 4:00pm meeting
9. June 8, 2018 - Arranged appointment with Dr. Kruger at 11am at Epstein's request
10. August 8, 2018 - 7:30pm dinner with Woody Allen, Soon Yi, and Barry Sternlicht
11. May 21, 2019 - 5:30pm appointment scheduled but canceled by Ruemmler
12. October 11, 2023 - Noon appointment reconfirmed (note: this date is after Epstein's death in August 2019; likely a data error or relates to someone else)

Additional meetings occurred at restaurants and other locations in Manhattan, including a September 2015 dinner described in scheduling emails.

Paris Apartment

In May 2019, Epstein arranged for his Paris driver to "Take Care of Kathy while in Paris" from May 15-18, 2019, directing the driver to provide transportation and assistance during her stay.

Other Properties

No visits to Epstein's Little St. James island, Palm Beach residence, or New Mexico ranch are documented in the email archive, though gaps in the evidence do not preclude the possibility of such visits.