Former White House Counsel Kathy Ruemmler Testifies on Epstein Connections

She qualified her skepticism by noting that, based on her experience as a former prosecutor and defense counsel, some of Giuffre’s specific allegations “lacked inherent credibility.” Ruemmler also acknowledged that she regretted emailing Epstein and described a 2026-dated joke about his prior conviction as “in extraordinarily poor taste.”

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Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who died by suicide, publicly alleged in 2019 that Epstein trafficked her and forced sexual encounters with his associates, including Prince Andrew. The allegations have driven broader scrutiny of Epstein’s network. Ruemmler’s professional relationship with Epstein dates to at least 2014, when email exchanges show Epstein referring to “girls?” and Ruemmler responding that she told him not to use that term.

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Goldman Sachs declined comment on Ruemmler’s resignation announced in February; the firm allowed her to remain as an adviser until a successor is named.

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• “Typically, when someone says, ‘I was sex trafficked to someone,’ they say who, when, where, not multiple world leaders, multiple foreign presidents,” — Ruemmler. She

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• “I didn’t have any direct involvement in any of this,” — Kathy Ruemmler

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• “So what I was making here was an offhanded joke that, certainly sitting here in 2026, is in extraordinarily poor taste, but it was a joke about his prior criminal history,” — Kathy Ruemmler

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• “I regret emailing him. And this is a – this is a joke that certainly doesn’t land very well today,” — Kathy Ruemmler

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• “He asked my views from time to time, as I think he asked others as well, and I tried to be responsive and give my views. But, again, he wasn’t my client. I didn’t work for him. He wasn’t paying me. Wasn’t my responsibility. It was somebody else’s responsibility,” — Kathy Ruemmler

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• “That is simply not what happened,” — Jami Schlicher

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Ruemmler’s testimony has intensified public debate over how professional associations with Epstein should be evaluated. The controversy may influence ongoing congressional oversight of financial institutions’ due-diligence practices and could shape future disclosures of ties to disreputable figures.

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