Goldman Sachs' top lawyer, Kathryn Ruemmler, has announced she will step down from her role after months of pressure over her friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Emails disclosed by the US justice department show she referred to the disgraced financier in emails as 'Uncle Jeffrey', advised him on how to push back against media and accepted luxury gifts from him.
'My responsibility is to put Goldman Sachs' interests first,' Ruemmler, who previously served as White House counsel to former US President Barack Obama, said in a statement.
Goldman CEO David Solomon thanked her for 'sound advice'. Her resignation will take effect from 30 June.
Throughout her tenure, Kathy has been an extraordinary general counsel, and we are grateful for her contributions,' Solomon said in a statement, adding that Ruemmler has also been a mentor and friend to many in the firm.
There is no suggestion that her involvement with Epstein implies any criminal wrongdoing. However, revelations about her ties to Epstein have created public relations issues for Goldman Sachs, where Ruemmler led its reputational risk committee. She joined Goldman in 2020.
Ruemmler maintained earlier that her relationship with Epstein was primarily professional, stating, 'I had no knowledge of any ongoing criminal conduct on his part, and I did not know him as the monster he has been revealed to be.'
The situation recalls other recent corporate resignations linked to Epstein, as scrutiny of his network continues to impact high-profile individuals and companies.
