Top Goldman Sachs Lawyer Resigns Over Epstein Documents

Kathy Ruemmler steps down after DOJ releases files revealing close ties between her and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon announced that the company's top lawyer, Kathy Ruemmler, will resign on June 30, 2026, after the Department of Justice released files showing her close relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The documents revealed emails where Ruemmler referred to Epstein as "Uncle Jeffrey" and that she helped him respond to media inquiries about his crimes.

Why it matters

The revelations about Ruemmler's ties to Epstein have sparked outrage and controversy, leading to the resignations of other high-profile figures in Europe who were also connected to the disgraced financier. The case highlights the continued fallout from the Epstein scandal and the need for greater accountability among those associated with him.

The details

The DOJ files showed that Ruemmler and Epstein communicated regularly between 2014 and 2019, including when Epstein was arrested in 2019. Ruemmler said she will step down as Goldman Sachs' Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, stating that the "media attention on me, relating to my prior work as a defense attorney, was becoming a distraction."

  • Ruemmler will resign as of June 30, 2026.
  • The DOJ released the remaining files connected to Jeffrey Epstein in 2026.

The players

Kathy Ruemmler

The former Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of Goldman Sachs, who is resigning after the DOJ released files showing her close relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

David Solomon

The CEO of Goldman Sachs, who accepted Ruemmler's resignation and stated that she will be missed.

Jeffrey Epstein

The convicted sex offender whose relationship with Ruemmler was revealed in the DOJ files, leading to her resignation.

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What they’re saying

“As one of the most accomplished professionals in her field, Kathy has also been a mentor and friend to many of our people, and she will be missed.”

— David Solomon, CEO, Goldman Sachs (Reuters)

“I made the determination that the media attention on me, relating to my prior work as a defense attorney, was becoming a distraction.”

— Kathy Ruemmler (Financial Times)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Epstein's associates to access the unredacted DOJ files.

The takeaway

This case highlights the continued fallout from the Epstein scandal and the need for greater accountability among those associated with him, as even high-profile figures like Ruemmler are being forced to resign over their connections to the disgraced financier.