Former Goldman Sachs Lawyer Exchanged Emails with Jeffrey Epstein About Secret Service Prostitution Scandal
Newly released documents from the Department of Justice's Epstein files have revealed that disgraced former Goldman Sachs general counsel Kathryn Ruemmler discussed sensitive information about a Secret Service prostitution scandal with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The email correspondence, dated October 17, 2014, occurred months after Ruemmler had left her position as White House Counsel under President Barack Obama.
Behind-the-Scenes Details of Cartagena Incident
The scandal in question involved multiple Secret Service members who hired prostitutes during a 2012 government trip to Cartagena, Colombia. The agents had traveled to the South American country as part of security preparations for then-President Obama's attendance at the Summit of the Americas. According to investigations, USSS agents brought prostitutes back to their hotel rooms prior to Obama's visit, with the incident becoming public after an argument over payment sparked a Homeland Security investigation.
In her email to Epstein, Ruemmler provided behind-the-scenes information that was not publicly known at the time, writing: 'This whole thing is ridiculous. They had to obtain the record "under the table" because the last thing the Hilton wanted to do is to voluntarily give over info implicating the privacy of their guests.' She added: 'The procedure for checking in prostitutes is hardly rigorous.'
Epstein's Editorial Input and Ongoing Relationship
The email exchange included a draft statement about how Ruemmler's former department, the White House Counsel's office, was involved in the investigation. Epstein, who was already a convicted sex offender at the time of this correspondence, suggested edits to her statement before asking if the White House volunteer 'still den[ies] it?' He marked this as an 'Important point' in his response.
Ruemmler replied: 'Yes he does. Making some more tweaks,' though it remains unclear whether she ultimately incorporated Epstein's suggested edits into her final statement. The documents reveal that Ruemmler and Epstein, whom she referred to as 'Uncle Jeffrey' in other emails, had exchanged hundreds of messages over the years, and she had accepted gifts from him during their association.
Fallout and Resignation from Goldman Sachs
Ruemmler announced last week that she would resign from her position as general counsel at Goldman Sachs this summer after emails connecting her to Epstein were revealed. In a statement to The Financial Times, she explained: 'I made the determination that the media attention on me, relating to my prior work as a defense attorney, was becoming a distraction.' She is scheduled to exit the firm on June 30.
Jennifer Connelly, a spokesperson for Ruemmler, told the Daily Mail: 'Ms. Ruemmler has done nothing wrong and has nothing to hide. Nothing in the record suggests otherwise. Ms. Ruemmler has deep sympathy for those harmed by Epstein and if she knew then what she knows now, she never would have dealt with him at all.'
Broader Context of Epstein Files Revelations
Ruemmler's departure marks the third high-profile resignation connected to the Epstein files, following Brad Karp, chairman of major law firm Paul Weiss, and Mona Juul, Scandinavia's ambassador to Jordan and Iraq. The documents released by the Department of Justice contain millions of emails, documents, and photos related to Epstein's network.
In a separate development from the Epstein files, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was detained by British police this week on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Detectives have been investigating his conduct as a trade envoy for the UK after emails suggested he shared confidential information with Epstein, including reports of official visits and potential investment opportunities.
The Secret Service, when contacted by the Daily Mail about the revelations concerning their agents' conduct in Colombia, stated: 'We don't have anything to add here.' Ruemmler had risen to become a key adviser to Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon following her storied legal career, which included serving as White House counsel to former President Barack Obama.
