--- alias: - Kathryn Ruemmler - Kathy Ruemmler born: 1971 category: Law Enforcement & Legal created: 2026-09-25 location: Washington, D.C.; New York, New York relations: - end: 2014 fn: 1 reverse: true role: White House Counsel start: 2011 type: appointed with: '[[Barack Obama]]' - end: 2020 fn: 2 role: partner; co-chair of the white-collar defense practice start: 2014 type: employed_by with: '[[Latham & Watkins]]' - end: 2026-06-30 fn: 1 role: general counsel and chief legal officer; co-chair of the reputational risk committee start: 2020 type: employed_by with: '[[Goldman Sachs]]' summary: Kathryn Ruemmler is the former Obama White House Counsel who met Jeffrey Epstein more than three dozen times between 2014 and 2019 and resigned as Goldman Sachs general counsel in 2026. tags: - Person - KathrynRuemmler - WhiteHouseCounsel - GoldmanSachs - LathamWatkins - JeffreyEpstein - ObamaAdministration updated: 2026-09-25 --- Kathryn Ruemmler is an American lawyer who served as White House Counsel to President Barack Obama from 2011 to 2014, then as a partner at Latham & Watkins and, from 2020, as general counsel of Goldman Sachs.[^1][^2] [Jeffrey Epstein](/people/jeffrey-epstein/) telephoned her within weeks of her departure from the White House in 2014, and his calendars record more than three dozen appointments with her through 2019.[^2] She announced her resignation from Goldman Sachs in February 2026, effective June 30, 2026, after her name recurred in the [Justice Department](/organizations/department-of-justice/)'s Epstein releases.[^1][^3] ### White House, Latham, and Goldman Ruemmler was White House Counsel from 2011 to 2014.[^1] She joined Latham & Watkins in 2014 as a partner and co-chair of its white-collar defense practice.[^2] In 2020 she moved to Goldman Sachs as chief legal officer and general counsel and co-chaired the bank's reputational risk committee.[^1] ### The Calendar Record, 2014 to 2019 According to the *[Wall Street Journal](/organizations/the-wall-street-journal/)*'s 2023 reporting on Epstein's private calendars, Epstein first called Ruemmler asking about her interest in [Bill Gates](/people/bill-gates/) and the Gates Foundation. He planned an August 2014 lunch for her at his Manhattan townhouse "followed by a series of meetings," had staff keep avocado sushi rolls on hand for her visits, and toured apartments she was considering buying.[^2] In October 2014, tracking her travel, he told staff, "See if there is a first class seat," and "if so upgrade her."[^2] His staff twice emailed him asking whether young women should be kept away from the townhouse while she was there.[^2] His records show a planned 2015 flight to [Paris](/places/paris/) and a planned 2017 day at his [U.S. Virgin Islands](/places/us-virgin-islands/) property; a Goldman spokesperson said she "never accepted an invitation or an opportunity to fly with Jeffrey Epstein anywhere" and never visited the island.[^2] Epstein introduced Ruemmler to Ariane de Rothschild, chief executive of the Edmond de Rothschild Group, and the introduction led the bank to hire Latham & Watkins for U.S. regulatory matters. Latham said that "Epstein was never a client of Latham's."[^2] Goldman described her contacts with Epstein as "the same kinds of contacts and engagements she had with other contacts and clients" and said she "didn't see anything that would lead her to be concerned" at the townhouse. Ruemmler told the *Journal*: "I regret ever knowing Jeffrey Epstein."[^2] ### The CIA Medal On January 8, 2015, while a partner at Latham & Watkins, Ruemmler wrote to Epstein: "John Brennan gave me the CIA Agency Medal (the CIA's highest award) this morning. How cool is that?"[^4] John Brennan was then director of the [Central Intelligence Agency](/organizations/central-intelligence-agency/). On April 13, 2018, Epstein sent her, without comment, a link to a November 2015 *[Forbes](/organizations/forbes/)* article on a "blackmail tax deduction" of 10 million dollars claimed by the actor Charlie Sheen.[^5] ### The Bannon Messages On August 23, 2018, Epstein exchanged iMessages with [Steve Bannon](/people/steve-bannon/), who was screening his documentary *Trump@War* with journalists from the *Wall Street Journal* and offered to send Epstein a link. Epstein wrote: "Your girlfriend Ruemmler is coming over," and "I wont share it unless you think ok." Bannon replied, "Let her watch," and "It's x rated for violence and language now." Earlier that evening Epstein had written, "Pecker immunity one more drop," a reference to the immunity granted to David Pecker of American Media in the Michael Cohen campaign-finance case. At 10:04 pm Epstein wrote to Bannon: "your girlfriend is outraged. . I suggested to her he pardon everyone, say this is not good for the country, and then fake the heart attack." Two minutes later he added: "she said it is a failure to disclose charge. and his changing stories lead to knowledge of wrongdoing. only transmitting." Bannon answered, "Lmao."[^6] No message from Ruemmler appears in the log. ### The 2026 Releases Emails released by the Justice Department in late January and early February 2026 cover 2014 to 2019.[^1] In May 2015 Epstein asked her about arranging a [White House](/places/white-house/) tour for Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn, writing, "I assume woody would be too politically sensitive?"; she indicated she could arrange it, and White House records show the tour took place in December 2015, while she was in private practice.[^1] In December 2015, after Epstein offered to buy her a first-class ticket to Europe, she wrote: "I adore him. It's like having another older brother!"[^1] An Epstein calendar entry for February 6, 2018 reads: "Kathy Ruemmler to have the Glam Squad to her NY apt for 9am!"[^1] Goldman's chief executive, David Solomon, said, "I accepted her resignation, and I respect her decision," and called her "an extraordinary general counsel" who "will be missed."[^1] Her resignation came in the same weeks as those of Brad Karp, chairman of the law firm Paul, Weiss, and [Tom Pritzker](/people/tom-pritzker/) of Hyatt.[^3] She has not been accused of any crime. [^1]: *CBS News,* February 2026, on Ruemmler's resignation as Goldman Sachs general counsel. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kathryn-ruemmler-resigning-from-goldman-sachs-epstein-files/ [^2]: "The Former Biglaw Partner In Jeffrey Epstein's Private Calendar." *Above the Law,* May 2023, summarizing the *Wall Street Journal*'s "Jeffrey Epstein's Private Calendar" series. https://abovethelaw.com/2023/05/the-former-biglaw-partner-in-jeffrey-epsteins-private-calendar/ [^3]: Chapman, Michelle. "Thomas Pritzker steps down from Hyatt board, saying he deeply regrets association with Epstein." Associated Press via *PBS NewsHour,* February 17, 2026. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/thomas-pritzker-steps-down-from-hyatt-board-saying-he-deeply-regrets-association-with-epstein [^4]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02386175, DataSet 11, email from Kathy Ruemmler to Jeffrey Epstein, January 8, 2015. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02386175.pdf [^5]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02475670, DataSet 11, email from Jeffrey Epstein to Kathy Ruemmler, April 13, 2018, linking Robert W. Wood, "Charlie Sheen's $10M Blackmail Tax Deduction," *Forbes,* November 18, 2015. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02475670.pdf [^6]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01615267, DataSet 10, iMessage log between Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon, August 23, 2018. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01615267.pdf