Goldman Sachs' Chief Legal Officer Signed 'xoxo' on Emails with Jeffrey Epstein, Who Then Joked about His Penis

Kathy Ruemmler, the chief legal officer at Goldman Sachs, signed off on emails to Jeffrey Epstein with “xoxo,” a detail that has surfaced in newly released Justice Department documents. The correspondence included a crude joke from Epstein regarding naming his penis, highlighting the controversial nature of their relationship.

On Epstein's 62nd birthday in 2015, Ruemmler sent him a message wishing him a happy day with “your one true love :-)” This prompted Epstein to respond with a quip about men naming their genitalia, suggesting it would be inappropriate to engage intimately with a stranger.

Ruemmler, who previously served as White House counsel under President Barack Obama, engaged in thousands of emails with Epstein following his 2008 conviction for procuring a minor. This correspondence continued until the full extent of his alleged sex crimes became public in 2019. In one exchange, she mockingly remarked, “Hard to believe that there is still an open question about whether men are [the] inferior gender.”

Jennifer Connelly, a spokesperson for Ruemmler, defended her actions, stating, “Ms. Ruemmler has done nothing wrong and has nothing to hide. Nothing in the record suggests otherwise.”

The emails also reveal Ruemmler's involvement in helping Epstein manage media inquiries, particularly when ABC News was preparing a segment featuring Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of Epstein's accusers. Giuffre alleged that Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell had sexually abused her and trafficked her to other influential figures.

In an email from April 2015, Ruemmler dismissed Giuffre’s claims as “fantastical” and “not credible.” Typos in the documents, including an unusual substitution of characters, have been attributed to transcription errors during the DOJ's processing of the files.

Further correspondence included Ruemmler asking if Maxwell would provide a statement to ABC News. Epstein replied that her lawyer had sent a lengthy letter and indicated she would comply with Ruemmler's suggestions.

In another email dated April 23, 2015, Ruemmler suggested edits to a document related to their communications. However, the attachment containing these edits was not included in the DOJ's release.

Epstein also offered to fly Ruemmler to his private Caribbean island. In a message from January 16, 2017, he proposed arranging transportation from St. Lucia. Ruemmler responded that she would be occupied with tobacco farmers in North Carolina but inquired about the possibility of visiting the island for a day trip.

Days later, they discussed a Daily Mail article about former President Obama visiting Richard Branson’s private island. Epstein suggested inviting Obama to meet them on his island, claiming it was “much nicer” and more private than Branson’s.

Ruemmler humorously noted that such an invitation would create a scandal, speculating on how the Daily Mail would react. Epstein then asked about their travel plans for Sunday, indicating he would arrange for her pickup.

Despite these plans, it appears the visit never occurred. On January 28, 2017, Epstein acknowledged Ruemmler's concerns about potential risks associated with the trip.

Additionally, the emails show Ruemmler seeking Epstein's advice on her career decisions. After leaving the Obama administration in October 2014, she sent him a draft statement declining consideration for the position of U.S. Attorney General and requested his feedback.

In July 2018, she shared a draft note intended for Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg following a meeting. In March 2019, Epstein advised her to maintain distance from him when dealing with Facebook matters.

Connelly emphasized that “Jeffrey Epstein was a man of a thousand faces,” asserting that Ruemmler only encountered the persona he presented to gain acceptance. She maintained that Ruemmler's interactions were strictly professional and based on her understanding at the time.

“At times, Epstein sought informal advice,” Connelly stated. “She provided feedback based on her understanding at the time, without any formal involvement.”