Kathy Ruemmler Resigns Amid Epstein Files Controversy

Sun Feb 15 2026 01:20:03 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Former White House Counsel Kathy Ruemmler resigns from Goldman Sachs amid fallout from her emails with Jeffrey Epstein, revealing troubling connections to Jay-Z’s lawyer, Alex Spiro.

Kathy Ruemmler, the former White House Counsel and Goldman Sachs attorney, has stepped down following the release of thousands of documents detailing her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Revealed through the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Ruemmler’s emails show a cozy relationship with Epstein, who sought her advice on hiring prominent defense attorney Alex Spiro, currently representing Jay-Z. This resignation reflects a broader reckoning around the elite’s connections to Epstein.

On Thursday evening, Kathryn “Kathy” Ruemmler — former White House Counsel to President Barack Obama, once considered a leading candidate for Attorney General of the United States, and until last night the top lawyer at Goldman Sachs — announced she was stepping down.

The reason, stripped of corporate niceties, is simple: the Epstein emails.

Thousands of pages of correspondence between Ruemmler and Jeffrey Epstein, released by the Department of Justice under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, have revealed a relationship far more intimate, far more transactional, and far more troubling than anything Ruemmler or Goldman Sachs had previously acknowledged.

On April 1, 2019, Jeffrey Epstein emailed Kathy Ruemmler asking whether he should hire attorney Alex Spiro.

The Email That Changes Everything

The DOJ-released file includes an April 1, 2019 email from Epstein writing, “bannon thinks I should hire burk and spiro to deal with civil? thoughts.” shortly after, he reached out to attorney Brad Karp stating: “Alex Spiro and Bannon coming at 4 tomorrow.”

The significance of this exchange lies in the relationship dynamics. Epstein wasn’t simply hiring a lawyer; he sought insight from his most trusted legal adviser — Ruemmler.

Alex Spiro is maintained as one of America’s most notable defense attorneys, known for representing Jay-Z and handling legal matters involving Sean “Diddy” Combs.

‘Uncle Jeffrey’ and His Gifts

Ruemmler claims her relationship with Epstein was strictly professional. Yet, the plethora of gifts she accepted, including a $9,400 Hermès bag and a $4,200 Fendi coat, paints a different picture. Correspondences suggesting emotional warmth towards Epstein reveal a closer bond than what she admits.

The Network Map

The documents released by the DOJ highlight a troubling map of elite connections — including Ruemmler, Epstein, and those within America's legal circles. The resignation of Ruemmler marks a significant ripple in the ongoing exposure surrounding Epstein's influence and connections.

The Question That Remains

The resignation raises questions about the nature and extent of the network Jeffrey Epstein built within the elite, emphasizing the need for further scrutiny regarding the relationships and loyalties forged over years of strategic influence.