WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Lawmakers said Kathryn Ruemmler, the former top lawyer at Goldman Sachs and White House counsel to President Barack Obama, was not being truthful Wednesday about her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, rejecting her testimony that Epstein had merely 鈥渦sed鈥� her.
Ruemmler in her opening remarks told members of the House Oversight Committee that 鈥渋t was a mistake to deal with鈥� Epstein, but she insisted she never witnessed criminal activity. She said Epstein 鈥渦sed me and other respectable people to legitimize his standing.鈥�
Democrats emerged from questioning Ruemmler saying she was not being forthcoming about her ties to Epstein.
鈥淚t is difficult to see how she鈥檚 being completely truthful in there with the answers she鈥檚 given the committee,鈥� Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the committee, told reporters.
Jennifer Connelly, a spokeswoman for Ruemmler, said in response that Ruemmler had “testified openly and truthfully for six hours and answered every question the committee asked.鈥�
is the latest prominent figure called before the House Oversight Committee as lawmakers investigate the network of powerful people connected with Epstein. The bipartisan inquiry has already included testimony from more than a dozen high-profile witnesses, including Microsoft co-founder and former President , as lawmakers examine how Epstein’s wealth and influence may have helped shield him from scrutiny.
Ruemmler served as White House counsel under Obama from 2011 to 2014 and was briefly considered for attorney general. She served as Goldman Sachs鈥� general counsel for six years before that she would step down amid backlash over her correspondence with Epstein. Although she said she would step down on June 30, she remains employed by Goldman Sachs.
Lawmakers have focused on Ruemmler鈥檚 close relationship with Epstein in the final years of his life, pointing to affectionate communications between the two.
鈥淔or her to deny that there was any type of real relationship there, I just don’t buy it,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淎nd so, again, the fact she is not under oath is very problematic.鈥�
The two were
close years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction on sex crimes
While Ruemmler has tried to downplay their relationship in more recent statements, thousands of documents released by the Justice Department showed that Ruemmler and Epstein had an extensive relationship. The files included personal emails, social plans and gifts that extended beyond formal legal work. Documents showed she had called Epstein 鈥淯ncle Jeffrey鈥� in emails and said she adored him.
Ruemmler said in her opening remarks that she first met Epstein in 2014 regarding potentially working with him and Gates 鈥渢o set up a large donor-advised fund.鈥� Soon after, according to Ruemmler, she learned about Epstein鈥檚 2008 conviction on sex crimes, when he became a registered sex offender.
She said Epstein expressed remorse about it, and that he did not know the women were underaged. She said she 鈥渞elied on the resolution reached by federal and state prosecutors and validated by a judge as being a proportionate and final resolution of his criminal conduct.鈥�
House Oversight Chair James Comer told reporters Wednesday that the 鈥渕ost concerning鈥� part of Ruemmler’s communications with Epstein is how she 鈥渢ried to rehabilitate his image after he was convicted of solicitation of a minor.鈥�
Ruemmler’s interview is part of a broader investigation
Comer said Wednesday that Ruemmler is the 18th person to testify as part of their broader investigation.
Billionaire investor Leon Black was subpoenaed last month after lawmakers said he refused to answer some questions about his yearslong relationship with Epstein.
Comer said Wednesday that Black will appear for a formal deposition on Sept. 3 but that he expects to have Black’s nondisclosure agreements by 鈥渢he end of the week.鈥�
The committee has also expressed interest in questioning acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, whose nomination to permanently lead the Justice Department is before the Senate. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi identified Blanche as the department鈥檚 point person on the release of the Epstein documents, a process that has drawn bipartisan scrutiny.
鈥淗opefully Blanche will come in as soon as his confirmation is over,鈥� Comer said.
During a lengthy podcast interview with Joe Rogan released Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance said the administration 鈥渁bsolutely鈥� mishandled the communications surrounding the Epstein files and its contents. Vance pointed largely to Bondi, who infamously stated that an alleged 鈥渃lient list鈥� of Epstein鈥檚 was 鈥渟itting on my desk right now.鈥�
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