This article may contain commentary
which reflects the author’s opinion.
A former White House counsel under President Barack Obama and most recently chief legal officer at Goldman Sachs, has resigned following reports about extensive email exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein.
Kathryn Ruemmler’s resignation follows revelations that she exchanged thousands of messages with Epstein, including correspondence sent years after his 2008 conviction on sex crimes charges.
The New York Post reported that some of Ruemmler’s emails included friendly and at times flirtatious language.
In a 2015 birthday message, she wrote, “I hope you enjoy the day with your one true love :-).” She signed other messages with “xoxo.”
In one exchange, Epstein replied with a vulgar joke, writing, “they say that men usually gvie [sic] a name to their penis, as [it] would be inappropriate to make love to a total stranger.”
Ruemmler responded that it’s “[h]ard to believe that there is still an open question about whether men are [the] inferior gender.”
The tone of the messages has drawn criticism, given Epstein’s criminal record and the allegations against him at the time.
Reports indicate Ruemmler may have offered strategic advice as Epstein faced renewed scrutiny.
As ABC News prepared a 2015 report involving accuser Virginia Giuffre, Ruemmler allegedly described the allegations as “fantastical” and “not [credible]” in emails to Epstein.
Advertisement
In another exchange involving Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein wrote to Ruemmler that “she will do as you suggest” even if it conflicted with Maxwell’s personal attorney’s guidance.
The emails also suggest coordination regarding visits to Epstein’s private island and other travel arrangements.
Ruemmler reportedly sought Epstein’s input on career considerations, including when she was under consideration for U.S. attorney general.
Her representatives have denied any wrongdoing.
“Ms. Ruemmler has done nothing wrong and has nothing to hide,” a Ruemmler representative told the New York Post. “Nothing in the record suggests otherwise.”
Goldman Sachs confirmed her departure but has not issued a detailed public statement.
Scrutiny of Epstein’s network of high-profile associates has continued as court records and communications have emerged.
Ruemmler’s resignation represents one of the most significant professional consequences tied to the resurfacing of Epstein-related correspondence.
The fallout from the Epstein scandal continues to affect figures in politics and finance.
France’s former Culture Minister, Jack Lang, has resigned from his position as head of a Paris cultural center due to alleged past financial ties to the infamous late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The allegations against Lang prompted a tax investigation into his connections, ultimately leading to his resignation.
As of this writing, Lang is the most prominent figure in France to be affected by the latest batch of Epstein files released on January 30, 2026, by the Justice Department. He is best known for serving as culture minister during the presidency of Socialist François Mitterrand in the 1980s and 1990s. Now 86 years old, Lang was scheduled to appear before the French Foreign Ministry, which oversees the Arab World Institute, but he chose to resign instead.
Lang’s attorney, Laurent Merlet, spoke with RTL radio on Sunday, saying that he was “very sad and deeply hurt to be leaving a position he loves.” He added, “He put the interests of the Arab World Institute first,” saying his client has denied the allegations against him and said they were “inaccurate.” The Foreign Ministry confirmed Lang’s resignation earlier this week.
According to a report from ABC News, the financial prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into Lang and his daughter, Caroline, regarding allegations of “aggravated tax fraud and money laundering.”
