Giuffre Family Condemns Former Obama Counsel After She Called Epstein Accuser 'Not Credible'

Virginia Giuffre's family has publicly denounced Kathryn Ruemmler, a former White House counsel to President Barack Obama, after Ruemmler told a congressional committee that she found Giuffre's allegations against Jeffrey Epstein to "lack inherent credibility." The exchange has reignited scrutiny of prominent figures connected to Epstein and intensified criticism of Ruemmler's past relationship with him.

Family Reaction

Giuffre's relatives reacted angrily to Ruemmler's closed-door testimony, which was released this week. Sky Roberts, described in court documents as a relative of Giuffre, and his wife Amanda Roberts accused Ruemmler of attempting to discredit Giuffre and of enriching herself while victims suffered. In a joint statement they said Ruemmler "should be ashamed of herself" and criticized Goldman Sachs for retaining her in any capacity.

What Ruemmler Told Congress

In testimony to the House Oversight Committee, Ruemmler — who has worked as a prosecutor and defense counsel — said some of Giuffre's allegations were missing detail and therefore "lacked inherent credibility." She elaborated that typical trafficking allegations include clear identifiers such as "who, when, where," and expressed skepticism about claims referencing multiple world leaders.

Sky Roberts said the lawyer 'should be ashamed of herself' for casting doubt on Giuffre - Reuters

"There were allegations that she made that were, I believed based on my experience as a former prosecutor and as a defence counsel, that were of such a nature that they were — they lacked inherent credibility," Ruemmler said.

Ru emmler also told lawmakers she had not seen evidence that Epstein was abusing women or girls at the time, but later described him as a "masterful liar." She acknowledged accepting gifts from Epstein during a six-year friendship and exchanging sometimes "irreverent" emails with him.

Career Fallout

Ruemmler resigned last month as Goldman Sachs's chief legal officer — a role in which reports said she was highly compensated — after details of her relationship with Epstein surfaced. She remains at the firm in a temporary advisory role, according to statements from the bank.

Background: Giuffre's Allegations And Wider Investigation

Virginia Giuffre has long accused Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell of recruiting and trafficking her when she was a minor. She has named high-profile figures among those she says Epstein arranged encounters with. Giuffre's memoir, Nobody's Girl, was published last October and recounts her allegations, which have had wide public and legal repercussions.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2001 - US District Court – Southern District of New York/AFP via Getty Images

Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on charges related to sex trafficking and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The US Senate voted unanimously in a non-binding resolution to oppose any presidential pardon for Maxwell, stating that she "should not be granted a presidential pardon or any form of clemency" for crimes involving the sexual exploitation of minors.

Congressional Probe Widens

The House Oversight Committee has heard testimony from other high-profile witnesses in its ongoing inquiry, including Bill Gates and former Barclays CEO Jes Staley. Lawmakers are also seeking testimony related to the handling of the so-called Epstein files, and questioning Todd Blanche — whose nomination for US attorney general has drawn criticism from victims over alleged mishandling of document redactions and disclosures.

Ruemmler's Statement

A spokesman for Ruemmler told The Telegraph: "As Ms. Ruemmler told the committee, she had no knowledge of any ongoing criminal activity by Epstein and there is not a shred of evidence to suggest otherwise. Ms. Ruemmler would never turn a blind eye to any criminal activity and if she had seen or heard anything to suggest that Epstein was harming women or girls, she would have taken action to stop it."

The dispute highlights continued tensions between survivors seeking accountability and public figures whose past relationships with Epstein are under renewed scrutiny.