Former White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler, who served under President Obama, faced intense questioning from the House Oversight Committee. The inquiry centered on her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.
Ruemmler appeared voluntarily for an interview. This session was part of the committee’s probe into Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate.
Lawmaker skepticism was apparent. Both Democrat and Republican members of the panel raised doubts about Ruemmler’s claim that her interactions with Epstein were limited. Democrats insisted she should have testified under oath.
“She was desperately trying to distance herself from Epstein,” Rep. Suhas Subramanyam commented. “However, the emails paint a different picture of a more friendly relationship.”
Ruemmler resigned as Goldman Sachs’ top lawyer amidst scrutiny over her links to Epstein. Released emails revealed numerous meetings and exchanges between them, even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Reports indicate Ruemmler’s relationship with him began in 2014 when she was at Latham & Watkins and continued until 2019.
Despite denying wrongdoing, Ruemmler acknowledged awareness of massages linked to Epstein but denied knowledge of involving underage individuals.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer expressed concerns. He described Ruemmler’s relationship with Epstein as “close,” doubting efforts she made to rehabilitate Epstein’s image post-conviction.
“Looking at her communication with Epstein, she worked hard to rehabilitate his image,” Comer said. “She was very close with Epstein.”
Ranking member Robert Garcia joined criticism. He questioned the truthfulness of Ruemmler’s testimony in the presence of the committee.
The committee confirmed its ongoing investigation into Epstein’s connections and inquiries will persist into the second year of the probe.
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