Kathryn Ruemmler Testifies She Never Represented Jeffrey Epstein as Counsel

Kathryn Ruemmler testified in a closed-door session before the House Oversight Committee on July 15, 2026, regarding her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. She stated that Epstein was a "masterful liar" and that she regrets her dealings with him. Ruemmler said she never represented Epstein as an attorney but frequently provided him legal and public relations advice.

She added that Epstein made one of his first phone calls after his July 6, 2019 arrest to her. In prepared remarks, Ruemmler said she never saw evidence of ongoing criminal conduct by Epstein and would have reported any such evidence if observed. She stated she was shocked by the 2019 indictment and cut ties with him at that time.

Ruemmler said she was aware of Epstein's 2008 guilty plea to prostitution-related charges and trusted that the plea deal resolved his criminal conduct. She stated that high-profile individuals associated with Epstein suggested he was no longer engaging in criminal activity and that he appeared to show remorse.

"If I knew then what I know now about who Epstein really was, I never would have accepted an initial meeting with him," she said.

Department of Justice files released earlier this year showed emails in which Ruemmler referred to Epstein as "Uncle Jeffrey" and wrote "Victim's rights, my ass" in a February 2015 message about a case involving the Crime Victims' Rights Act. Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, told reporters during a break that he believed Ruemmler was unwilling to take responsibility for her relationship with Epstein.

Garcia said she continued to interact with Epstein after knowing of his conviction and made jokes about massages. Ruemmler announced her resignation from Goldman Sachs in February 2026 but remains at the firm advising on the search for a new general counsel. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said on CNBC that she continues to help the firm after stepping down as chief legal officer.

Ruemmler is the 17th person to testify in the committee's Epstein investigation. Billionaire Leon Black, subpoenaed last month, is scheduled for a formal deposition on September 3.