Stock Markets February 13, 2026

Goldman Sachs Chief Legal Officer Kathy Ruemmler Resigns After DOJ Documents; CEO Says He 'Reluctantly Accepted' Decision

David Solomon says he respected Ruemmler’s choice to leave after Justice Department records linked her to gifts from Jeffrey Epstein and media advice to him

By Caleb Monroe GS
Goldman Sachs Chief Legal Officer Kathy Ruemmler Resigns After DOJ Documents; CEO Says He 'Reluctantly Accepted' Decision
GS

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said he had "reluctantly accepted" the resignation of Chief Legal Officer Kathy Ruemmler and emphasized his respect for her decision. The exit follows Justice Department documents indicating Ruemmler accepted gifts from Jeffrey Epstein and counseled him on responding to media inquiries about his crimes. Her departure is described as the most high-profile banking exit tied to the latest Epstein-related document release.

Key Points

  • Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said he "reluctantly accepted" Chief Legal Officer Kathy Ruemmler’s resignation and expressed respect for her decision - sector affected: Banking.
  • U.S. Justice Department documents indicate Ruemmler accepted gifts from Jeffrey Epstein and advised him on handling media inquiries about his crimes - sector affected: Legal and compliance functions within financial firms.
  • Ruemmler’s departure is noted as the most high-profile banking exit after release of the latest Epstein-related documents - sector affected: Capital markets and institutional reputation.

Goldman Sachs confirmed a senior leadership change after details from recently released U.S. Justice Department documents implicated the firm's Chief Legal Officer in interactions with Jeffrey Epstein.

In an interview with CNBC, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said of Kathy Ruemmler: "I reluctantly accepted her, her resignation, but I respect her decision." Ruemmler had served as the bank's Chief Legal Officer and was counted among its top executive officers prior to her departure.

The Justice Department records that have surfaced indicate Ruemmler accepted gifts from the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and provided him advice on how to handle media questions concerning his crimes. Those disclosures prompted Ruemmler to step down from her role at the Wall Street firm. Her resignation is reported as the most prominent banking exit following the publication of these Epstein-related documents.

Ruemmler’s exit removes one of the company’s most senior legal executives at a time when the firm is facing heightened public scrutiny connected to the material disclosed in the Justice Department files. The firm has not provided additional commentary beyond Solomon's statement acknowledging and accepting her resignation while respecting her choice to leave.

Alongside reporting on the leadership change, financial product commentary included discussion of whether investors should consider buying shares of Goldman Sachs. Promotional material noted a service called ProPicks AI that evaluates GS among thousands of companies using more than 100 financial metrics and cites past stock winners such as Super Micro Computer (+185%) and AppLovin (+157%) as examples of its record. That material describes the AI as assessing fundamentals, momentum, and valuation without bias and invites readers to explore its strategies for potential opportunities in the sector.


Sectors potentially impacted: Banking, Legal services, Capital markets.

Risks

  • Reputational risk to Goldman Sachs arising from the Justice Department disclosures about an executive’s interactions with Jeffrey Epstein - impacts the banking sector and investor confidence.
  • Potential internal legal and compliance disruptions at Goldman Sachs following the exit of the Chief Legal Officer - impacts legal departments and governance functions within financial institutions.
  • Heightened public and regulatory scrutiny of the firm linked to the disclosed documents, which could affect client relationships and deal flow in capital markets - impacts investment banking and advisory services.

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