Goldman Sachs’ former top lawyer tells House Epstein was a ‘masterful liar’ who used her to bolster his standing

Goldman Sachs' former top lawyer Kathryn Ruemmler told the House oversight committee on Wednesday that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein lied to her about his conduct and used his relationships with prominent people to legitimize himself.

Ruemmler said in an opening statement that she never saw evidence of ongoing criminal conduct by Epstein and would have reported him to law enforcement if she had seen signs that he was abusing women or girls. She called her decision to deal with him a mistake and said she regretted ever knowing him.

"Epstein was a masterful liar, and he clearly lied to me," Ruemmler said. She added that she now believes he used her and other "respectable people" to bolster his standing.

Before entering the closed-door, transcribed interview, Ruemmler told CNBC she was "happy" to answer lawmakers' questions about her relationship with the convicted sex offender.

"You know what, I'm happy to answer any question that they have that they think will help their inquiry," Ruemmler said. "So again, I'm looking forward to being with the committee members today."

The interview comes weeks after Ruemmler stepped down as Goldman's top lawyer following renewed scrutiny of her friendly emails with Epstein. But instead of leaving the investment bank, she remained in an advisory role while it seeks a permanent successor to her.

Lawmakers are expected to question Ruemmler about her dealings with Epstein between 2014 and 2019, including gifts he sent her, advice she offered him about responding to media scrutiny and a phone call he placed to her after his July 2019 arrest on federal child sex trafficking charges.

"I do think we have some on Goldman Sachs later in the afternoon — some questions about Goldman Sachs," Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the committee's top Democrat, told CNBC.

Ruemmler met Epstein in 2014 while working as a white-collar defense lawyer at Latham & Watkins. Her spokeswoman has said Ruemmler never represented Epstein but shared a client with him.

Documents released by Congress and the Justice Department show Epstein sent Ruemmler luxury gifts and called her after the arrest. In a March 2019 email, she also suggested language he could use to rebut criticism of the lenient plea deal he received in 2008.

Ruemmler has said she regrets knowing Epstein. She has not been accused of participating in his crimes.

Goldman CEO David Solomon told CNBC in February that the media scrutiny had made it "hard for her to execute on her job and her responsibilities," leading her to conclude "it was time to step away."

In an interview on CNBC's "Halftime Report" on Tuesday, Solomon defended Ruemmler staying on past the end-of-June resignation she'd announced.

"Why wouldn't we take advantage of that as we try to do its best for Goldman Sachs?" he said. "That's an obligation to do its best for Goldman Sachs. And Kathy is ... helping us do that." 

Ruemmler's voluntary interview is part of the oversight committee's examination of Epstein's crimes, the federal government's handling of his cases, and how Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell cultivated influence among powerful figures.

The panel has also interviewed former President Bill Clinton, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

In addition to her work in the private sector, Ruemmler previously served as White House counsel under former President Barack Obama.