Kathryn Ruemmler, former White House counsel to Barack Obama and current top lawyer at Goldman Sachs, was brought in by the law firm Latham & Watkins in 2018 to review investigations into allegations that former Archbishop of Newark, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, had sexually harassed seminarians at Seton Hall’s Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology (ICS). At the same time, and for years prior, Ruemmler was in frequent communication with convicted sex offender, human trafficker and financier Jeffrey Epstein.
CNN's KFile confirmed that Ruemmler and Epstein exchanged more than 100 emails over several years. Between 2014 and 2019, she appeared on Epstein’s schedule several times for meetings, appointments and lunches.
SHU had retained Gibbons P.C. as special counsel to commission an independent review of McCarrick’s actions at SHU. Gibbons, in turn, hired Latham & Watkins in 2018 to conduct an “independent, unrestricted review,” The Setonian previously reported. Although the review was completed in 2019, it has yet to be publicly released, despite a New Jersey Superior Court ordering its disclosure.
Records show that Ruemmler’s contact with Epstein continued as she began work at SHU. On Sept. 29, 2018, Epstein requested to visit Ruemmler’s apartment.
“Yes, but now my contractor is in there so it looks under construction again,” Ruemmler replied. “I have to present to Seton Hall board this morning at 10am in New Jersey. Should be back by noon.”
The exchange places Ruemmler in direct contact with Epstein while actively engaged in work related to SHU’s response to the McCarrick allegations.
Records also indicate that Ruemmler attended several in-person meetings with Epstein during this period. On April 2, 2019, she met with Epstein, financier Anthony Scaramucci and former investment banker and White House chief strategist Steve Bannon.
Additionally, on May 21, 2019, Epstein’s personal assistant, Lesley Groff, emailed Ruemmler to confirm that she would “come see Jeffrey” that evening.
Communications obtained from the Epstein Library suggest that Ruemmler and Epstein’s relationship extended beyond professional interactions. Epstein frequently sent her gifts over the years. In an April 22, 2015 email to Jojo Fontanilla, one of Epstein’s former household staff members, an unidentified sender wrote, “Jeffrey has a gift he would like you to take to Kathy Ruemmler.”
Another email shows Epstein sending Ruemmler a “very important package” on Sept. 2, 2016, to which she responded, “OH MY GOD!!!!! He is in so much trouble!!!! I am dying. It is so beautiful.” The contents of the package were not disclosed. That same year, Epstein gifted Ruemmler a $9,350 Hermes handbag and $10,000 of Bergdorf Goodman gift cards, according to The Independent.
In a Jan. 4, 2019 email, Ruemmler wrote that she was “totally tricked out by Uncle Jeffrey today! Jeffrey boots, handbag, and watch!” Epstein reportedly also sent her an Apple watch later that year.
Ruemmler was also among the first people Epstein called following his arrest in July 2019.
University Relations did not respond to a request for comment.
The firm of Latham and Watkins has yet to respond to The Setonian’s request for comment.
Megan Pitt is the head editor of The Setonian’s News section. She can be reached at megan.pitt@student.shu.edu.
