Ex-obama Lawyer Regrets Ties to Epstein, Set to Testify
WHO:
CNN - Kathy Ruemmler, former Obama White House counsel, is set to testify.
CNN - James Comer, House Oversight Chair, is involved in the investigation.
CNN - Robert Garcia, top Democrat on the panel, is involved in the investigation.
WHAT:
CNN - Ruemmler stated, “Notwithstanding his conviction, by the time I met him, he had active relationships with an extensive group of respected professionals in business, academia, politics, and the arts.”
CNN - Ruemmler mentioned that she “at no time” endorsed or excused the conduct to which Epstein pled guilty.
CNN - Ruemmler expressed that she “did not see any evidence of ongoing criminal conduct or misconduct of any kind by Epstein.”
CNN - Ruemmler stated, “There has been much media attention around my email communications with Epstein and gifts that he gave me. Many of my emails with Epstein have been taken out of context or do not mean what some have speculated or suggested.”
CNN - Ruemmler said, “I didn’t ask for them, didn’t need them, and didn’t view them as particularly personal or consequential. I accepted them graciously, as I saw no reason not to.”
CNN - Ruemmler left the Obama White House in 2014 and went to work for Latham & Watkins as head of its white-collar defense group.
CNN - Ruemmler joined Goldman Sachs in 2020 and was later promoted to become the firm’s chief legal officer.
CNN - Ruemmler stated, “If I knew then what I know now about who Epstein really was, I never would have accepted an initial meeting with him. It was a mistake to deal with him, and I regret it.”
CNN - Ruemmler described Epstein as a “masterful liar” and claimed she “did not see any evidence of ongoing criminal conduct or misconduct of any kind by Epstein.”
CNN - Ruemmler expressed that, “if I had seen or heard any evidence suggesting that he was abusing women or girls, I would have immediately reported him to law enforcement.”
CNN - Ruemmler mentioned that she first met Epstein in 2014 and that he expressed remorse for his conduct, stating he believed the women he solicited were over the age of 18.
CNN - Ruemmler indicated that she had inquired about taking a trip to Epstein’s private island in January 2017 and later mused about helping him clean up after Hurricane Irma.
CNN - Ruemmler stated, “it was a mistake” to deal with Jeffrey Epstein and expressed regret over her interactions with him.
CNN - Ruemmler was called to testify voluntarily by the Republican-led House Oversight Committee as part of a congressional probe into Epstein.
CNN - Ruemmler described Epstein as a “masterful liar” and stated she did not see evidence of ongoing criminal conduct by him.
ABC News US - Ruemmler is set to testify as part of the House's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
WHERE:
CNN - The testimony is taking place as part of a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee.
WHEN:
CNN - Ruemmler announced she would resign from her job as chief legal officer at Goldman Sachs by June 30.
CNN - A batch of documents was released by the Justice Department on January 30.
WHY:
CNN - Ruemmler stated, “I wish I had never dealt with him at all, much less emailed with him.”
ABC News US - The House Oversight Committee is preparing to hold Lesley Groff accountable if she is found to have lied to Congress, as lying to Congress is a crime.
CNN - Ruemmler’s testimony is part of a congressional probe into Epstein following scrutiny of her ties to him.
CNN - Ruemmler stated that many people assume those who dealt with Epstein before his 2019 indictment knew everything about him, which she claims is not true in her case.
HOW:
CNN - Ruemmler coordinated responses to journalists regarding Epstein’s legal battles and reputational issues, including a proposed network TV interview with a victim that never aired.
CNN - Survivors of Epstein have been asked by the House Oversight Committee to review Groff’s interview transcript and report any discrepancies.
CNN - Ruemmler engaged with Epstein casually and informally, providing advice but not representing him as a lawyer.
CNN - Ruemmler coordinated responses to journalists regarding Epstein’s legal battles and reputational issues.
(UPDATED July 16, 2026 00:15 UTC)
Ruemmler has stated that despite her past interactions with Epstein, she did not endorse or excuse his conduct and did not observe any ongoing criminal behavior from him. She expressed regret about her dealings with Epstein, saying, “I wish I had never dealt with him at all, much less emailed with him,” while also clarifying that many of her email exchanges have been misinterpreted. Ruemmler, who left the Obama White House in 2014 to join Latham & Watkins and later became chief legal officer at Goldman Sachs, coordinated responses to journalists concerning Epstein’s legal issues, including a proposed interview with a victim that ultimately did not air.
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(UPDATED July 15, 2026 22:18 UTC)
Ruemmler has expressed deep regret over her initial meeting with Epstein, stating that if she had known then what she knows now, she would never have accepted it. She described Epstein as a "masterful liar," claiming she saw no evidence of his ongoing criminal conduct, and emphasized that had she suspected any abuse, she would have reported it immediately. Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee is preparing to hold Lesley Groff accountable for any potential lies to Congress, and survivors of Epstein have been asked to review Groff’s interview transcript for any discrepancies.
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(UPDATED July 15, 2026 17:26 UTC)
Kathy Ruemmler, who previously served as counsel in the Obama White House, is set to testify before the House Oversight Committee as part of an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. During her testimony, Ruemmler expressed regret over her interactions with Epstein, describing him as a "masterful liar" and clarifying that she did not witness any ongoing criminal conduct by him. She emphasized that many people assume those who dealt with Epstein before his 2019 indictment were fully aware of his actions, a notion she disputes in her own case.