File photo: White House counsel Katherine Rumler listens to President Barack Obama’s speech at an installation ceremony for FBI Director James Comey at FBI headquarters in Washington, Monday, Oct. 28, 2013.
Charles Dharpak AP
Katherine Ruemmler, former top lawyer at Goldman Sachs, told House Oversight Committee Convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein lied to her about his conduct and used his connections to prominent people to legitimize himself, she said on Wednesday.
Ruemmler said in an opening statement that she never saw evidence of ongoing criminal conduct by Epstein and that if she had seen signs that he was abusing women or girls, she would have reported him to law enforcement. She called her decision to deal with him a mistake and said she regretted knowing about him.
“Epstein was an expert liar and he blatantly lied to me,” Ruemmler said. He said he now believed he used her and other “respectable people” to enhance his status.
Before entering the closed-door written interview, Ruemmler told CNBC that she was “happy” to answer lawmakers’ questions about her relationship with the convicted sex offender.
Ruemmler said, “You know, I’d be happy to answer any questions they have that they feel will help their inquiry.” “Then, I look forward to being with the committee members today.”
The interview comes just weeks after Ruemmler stepped down as Goldman’s top lawyer following renewed scrutiny of her friendly emails with Epstein. But instead of leaving the investment bank, she remained in an advisory role while the bank searches for a permanent successor to her.
Lawmakers are expected to question Ruemmler about his dealings with Epstein between 2014 and 2019. he sent her giftsAdvice he gave her about responding to media scrutiny and also about a phone call he made to her following his July 2019 arrest on federal child sex trafficking charges.
“I think we’ll have some questions about Goldman Sachs later in the afternoon,” Representative Robert Garcia of California, the committee’s top Democrat, told CNBC.
Ruemmler met Epstein in 2014 while working as a white-collar defense attorney at Latham & Watkins. His spokesman has said that Ruemmler never represented Epstein, but had shared a client with him.
Documents released by Congress and the Justice Department show that Epstein sent luxury gifts to Ruemmler and called her after his arrest. In a March 2019 email, he also suggested language he might use to rebut criticism of the lenient plea agreement he received in 2008.
Ruemmler has said he regrets learning about Epstein. He has not been accused of participating in his crimes.
Goldman CEO David Solomon told CNBC in February that the media scrutiny “has made it harder for him to do his job and his responsibilities”, leading him to conclude that “it is time to step down.”
In an interview on CNBC’s “Halftime Report” on Tuesday, Solomon defended Ruemmler’s standing by his resignation in late June, which he announced.
“Why wouldn’t we take advantage of that as we’re trying to do our best for Goldman Sachs?” He said. “We have an obligation to do our best for Goldman Sachs. And Kathy… is helping us do that.”
Ruemmler’s voluntary interview is part of the watchdog’s investigation into Epstein’s crimes, the federal government’s handling of his cases and how Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell wielded influence among powerful figures.
The panel has also interviewed former President Bill Clinton. Microsoft Founder Bill Gates and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
In addition to his work in the private sector, Ruemmler previously served as White House counsel under former President Barack Obama.