Top Goldman Sachs lawyer who called Epstein 'Uncle Jeffrey' resigns

February 13, 2026

Kathryn Ruemmler, Goldman Sachs' chief legal officer, is resigning following months of scrutiny over her relationship with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Recently disclosed emails from the Justice Department revealed that Ruemmler referred to Epstein affectionately as "Uncle Jeffrey," accepted expensive luxury items from him, and provided him strategic communications advice about defending his controversial 2008 plea agreement. While there is no indication of criminal wrongdoing on her part, the ongoing revelations created a significant public relations problem for Goldman Sachs, particularly given Ruemmler's leadership of the bank's reputational risk committee.

Who is affected

Kathryn Ruemmler (resigning Goldman Sachs general counsel)
Goldman Sachs (Wall Street bank facing reputational concerns)
David Solomon (Goldman Sachs CEO)
Jeffrey Epstein (deceased sex offender at center of controversy)
Brad Karp (Paul Weiss law firm chairman who also resigned)
Paul Weiss law firm
Goldman Sachs employees who viewed Ruemmler as a mentor

What action is being taken

Kathryn Ruemmler is stepping down from her role as Goldman Sachs' top lawyer
The US Justice Department is disclosing emails and documents related to Jeffrey Epstein

Why it matters

This resignation matters because it demonstrates how associations with Jeffrey Epstein continue to have professional consequences for prominent figures, even without allegations of criminal wrongdoing. The situation is particularly significant because Ruemmler led Goldman Sachs' reputational risk committee while her own connections to Epstein created a major public relations crisis for the bank. Her position as a former White House counsel under President Obama and current general counsel at one of Wall Street's most prestigious institutions amplifies the impact of these revelations on corporate governance and ethical standards in the financial sector.

What's next

Her resignation will take effect on June 30th.

Read full article from source: BBC