The former top lawyer at Goldman Sachs has come under intense scrutiny after it emerged that her compensation rose to $25 million last year despite mounting controversy over her links to Jeffrey Epstein. Kathy Ruemmler, who has since announced her resignation, received an 11 percent pay increase from her 2024 earnings, according to disclosures by the Wall Street bank.
In its statement, Goldman Sachs praised Kathy Ruemmler for her “exceptional judgment and advice” across legal, regulatory, and risk management matters, highlighting her continued contribution to the firm’s leadership. However, the pay rise has drawn attention due to the timing, coming shortly after she confirmed she would step down at the end of June amid renewed public focus on her past associations.
Kathy Ruemmler, a former White House counsel under Barack Obama, joined Goldman Sachs in 2020 and is widely regarded as one of the most prominent legal figures in the United States. Her connections to Jeffrey Epstein resurfaced following the release of extensive documents by the US Department of Justice, which detailed the nature of their relationship.
The documents revealed that she had referred to Epstein as “wonderful Jeffrey” and described him in private correspondence as akin to an “older brother.” They also indicated that Epstein had given her expensive gifts, including luxury items mentioned in emails from 2019. While there has been no suggestion of wrongdoing by Kathy Ruemmler, the revelations have intensified scrutiny of individuals linked to Epstein’s network.
Epstein, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to charges related to soliciting prostitution from a minor, was later arrested in 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking minors. He died by suicide in custody later that year, but investigations and document releases have continued to expose the breadth of his connections across business, politics, and elite social circles.
Despite earlier reports of her ties emerging in 2023, Kathy Ruemmler had retained the support of Goldman Sachs chief executive David Solomon. Upon her resignation, Solomon acknowledged her contributions, stating that she would be missed by the firm.
