Former Obama White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler was questioned by the House Oversight Committee about her relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Ruemmler, who recently stepped down from her role as senior lawyer at Goldman Sachs, appeared voluntarily for a closed‑door interview as part of the committee’s investigation into Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Lawmakers from both parties rejected her claim that the relationship was limited, and Democrats argued that she should have been interviewed under oath.
Committee member Rep. Suhas Subramanyam said the emails presented to the panel show a friendly relationship and that Ruemmler acknowledged knowledge of Epstein’s massages, though she claimed she was unaware the recipients were underage.
Subramanyam added that Ruemmler appeared to prioritize financial considerations over Epstein’s criminal record, suggesting she overlooked his conduct because of his wealth and influence.
Justice Department‑released emails indicate that Ruemmler met with Epstein multiple times, exchanged messages, and received gifts from 2014 through 2019, well after his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor.
The correspondence began while Ruemmler was a partner at Latham & Watkins and continued until 2019, the year Epstein died by suicide while awaiting trial on federal sex‑trafficking charges.
Ruemmler has consistently denied any wrongdoing and maintains she was unaware of any criminal activity by Epstein during their interactions.
Committee Chairman James Comer described the communications as evidence that Ruemmler worked to rehabilitate Epstein’s image after his conviction, characterizing the relationship as “very concerning.”
Ranking member Robert Garcia questioned the credibility of Ruemmler’s testimony, noting the difficulty in accepting her statements given her continued personal friendship with a convicted sexual offender and the lack of explanation for maintaining that relationship.
