Former NBC Executive's Scathing Email Demands End to Affair with Obama Lawyer
Newly released documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case have unveiled a deeply personal email from a former NBC News executive to Kathryn Ruemmler, who served as Barack Obama's top White House counsel. The message, sent in June 2015, reveals the emotional fallout of an extramarital affair involving Ruemmler and the executive's husband, high-profile lawyer Reid Weingarten.
Emotional Plea to 'Stay Away'
Cheryl Gould, who stepped down from her role at NBC the previous year, penned a soul-baring email to Ruemmler, begging her to "stay away" from Weingarten. Gould accused Ruemmler of being involved in a yearslong romantic relationship with her husband, which she described as causing significant damage to their marriage and family. The email was sent after a brief phone conversation between the two women, occurring a year after Ruemmler left her position in the Obama administration.
In the message, Gould claimed that Weingarten had an "addiction" to Ruemmler and had requested her help to break it. She urged Ruemmler to "suck up your hurt feelings and send me a sincere apology," emphasizing the finality of the relationship. Gould expressed hope that Ruemmler could find true happiness without being involved with someone else's husband.
Impact on Family and Marriage
Gould did not hold back in detailing the consequences of the affair, particularly highlighting the effect on their son. She wrote that their child had been "fighting tears all weekend" due to seeing his father, once a figure of admiration, as a "weak man who has lied and cheated." Despite this, Gould asserted that her marriage to Weingarten remained strong and would survive the turmoil, describing their bond as resilient amidst the "mess" caused by the affair.
She also dismissed any notion of future friendship with Ruemmler, stating that while many people thought they would be "great friends," she could not align with women who sleep with married men. Gould implied that Ruemmler was swept away by a "deformed mutation of love," showing no respect for such behavior.
Connection to Jeffrey Epstein
Intriguingly, Ruemmler appears to have forwarded Gould's email to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier. Ruemmler, now a top executive at Goldman Sachs, found it "dispositive" that Weingarten would allow the message to stand. Weingarten was one of Epstein's personal lawyers, representing him in his 2019 criminal case. Ruemmler has previously described Epstein as like an "older brother" and expressed regret over knowing him, though she denies ever legally representing him.
The email exchange sheds light on the complex relationships within elite circles, linking personal scandals to broader controversies. Ruemmler's role at Goldman Sachs is under increasing scrutiny as these emails reveal the depth of her connection to Epstein, adding pressure to her professional standing.
Detailed Email Exchange
Gould's initial email on June 13, 2015, ordered Ruemmler to stay away from Weingarten, accusing her of lacking dignity and pride. Two days later, she sent a more extensive follow-up, condemning the affair and reiterating that the couple was through. In this message, Gould revealed that Weingarten had attempted to break up with Ruemmler over the phone, but the call ended abruptly when Ruemmler hung up.
She wrote, "Reid has told me about his addiction to you before and has asked for my help to break it. He finally found the power to do it because of the depths of his misery and unwillingness to proceed through life as a dishonorable man." Gould expressed a wish for Ruemmler to find a true friend to help her similarly, ending with best wishes for her future.
This revelation adds another layer to the ongoing scrutiny of Epstein's associates, highlighting how personal indiscretions intersect with high-stakes legal and financial worlds. The documents continue to fuel public interest in the connections between powerful figures and the late financier.
