Prominent Ex-Obama Lawyer Signed Epstein Emails with 'xoxo' Amid Vulgar Jokes

Kathryn Ruemmler, Goldman Sachs' top lawyer, exchanged thousands of emails with disgraced sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after his 2008 conviction.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Kathryn Ruemmler, the current chief legal officer at Goldman Sachs and former White House counsel under President Obama, exchanged thousands of emails with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after his 2008 conviction. The emails show a cozy, almost flirtatious relationship, with Ruemmler signing birthday emails to Epstein with 'xoxo' and responding to his vulgar jokes. Ruemmler also appeared to help Epstein coordinate a response to allegations made by one of his accusers and provided legal assistance regarding his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

Why it matters

Ruemmler's close relationship with Epstein raises questions about her judgment and ethics, especially given her high-profile roles as White House counsel and now as the top lawyer at a major financial firm. The revelations could potentially damage her reputation and career, and may prompt calls for her to testify before Congress about the nature of her interactions with Epstein.

The details

The emails between Ruemmler and Epstein, obtained by the New York Post, show a friendly and even flirtatious dynamic between the two. Ruemmler signed birthday emails to Epstein with 'xoxo' and responded to his vulgar jokes. She also appeared to help Epstein coordinate a response to allegations made by one of his accusers, Virginia Giuffre, in 2015, telling Epstein the allegations were 'fantastical' and 'not credible.' Additionally, Ruemmler provided legal assistance to Epstein regarding his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, telling Epstein that 'she will do as you suggest' even if it went against Maxwell's personal counsel's advice. The emails also reveal coordination between Ruemmler and Epstein regarding her visits to his private island.

  • Ruemmler and Epstein exchanged thousands of emails after Epstein's 2008 conviction.
  • In 2015, Ruemmler helped Epstein coordinate a response to allegations made by Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's accusers.
  • Ruemmler and Epstein continued to communicate and coordinate as late as 2017.

The players

Kathryn Ruemmler

Kathryn Ruemmler is the current chief legal officer at Goldman Sachs and the former White House counsel under President Barack Obama.

Jeffrey Epstein

Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019.

Virginia Giuffre

Virginia Giuffre was one of Jeffrey Epstein's accusers who made allegations against him in 2015.

Ghislaine Maxwell

Ghislaine Maxwell was an associate of Jeffrey Epstein and was convicted of sex trafficking in 2021.

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What’s next

Ruemmler may be called to testify before Congress about the nature of her relationship with Epstein and her involvement in assisting him.

The takeaway

Ruemmler's close relationship with the convicted sex offender Epstein raises serious questions about her judgment and ethics, especially given her high-profile roles in government and the private sector. The revelations could potentially damage her reputation and career, and may prompt further scrutiny and investigation into the extent of her interactions with Epstein.