Kathy Ruemmler, Goldman Sachs’ Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, announced Thursday that she will leave the investment bank at the end of June 2026.
Her resignation follows media scrutiny over documents revealing cordial email exchanges between her and Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier accused of sexual abuse.
Ruemmler, 54, who joined Goldman Sachs in 2020 as a senior adviser to CEO David Solomon, told the Financial Times that media focus on her previous work as a defense attorney had become “a distraction.”
Over recent months, Goldman Sachs defended Ruemmler after Congress and the U.S. Department of Justice released emails between her and Epstein, alongside other documents related to federal investigations. Solomon described Ruemmler on CNBC’s Squawk Box as “a wonderful person,” emphasizing that media attention had reached a level that made it difficult for her to fulfill her duties effectively.
“She informed me yesterday that the coverage of her past work, and the overall situation, had become so noisy and distracting that she felt it was affecting her ability to perform her role,” Solomon said. “She concluded that it was time to step down.”
In her statement, Ruemmler highlighted her tenure at Goldman Sachs: “Since joining six years ago, I have had the honor of overseeing the company’s legal, reputational, and regulatory matters; strengthening our robust risk management processes; and ensuring our commitment to integrity in everything we do.”
She added, “It is my responsibility to put Goldman Sachs’ interests first. I have informed David Solomon of my decision to resign as General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer effective June 30, 2026, with deep regret.”
Ruemmler’s resignation comes shortly after a Wall Street Journal report revealed she was one of three people contacted by Epstein on July 6, 2019, shortly after federal authorities arrested him in New Jersey on charges of sex trafficking of minors.
Solomon praised Ruemmler’s contributions, saying: “Kathy has been an outstanding general counsel, and we are grateful for her valuable advice on a wide range of important legal matters. She has also been a mentor and friend to many of our employees, and we will miss her. I respect her decision and have accepted her resignation.”
Her departure marks a significant shift in Goldman Sachs’ legal leadership amid lingering reputational concerns stemming from her prior professional connections.
Follow the latest news on Google News
