When Swiss banker Ariane de Rothschild sought to resolve a federal investigation into her bank's alleged assistance in hiding billions from the IRS, she enlisted the help of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein reportedly helped Edmond de Rothschild, one of Europe's largest private banks, negotiate a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department, earning a $25 million fee in the process.

An email from November 2015 shows Epstein helped arrange a deal for the bank to pay $45.5 million to the IRS, $10 million in legal fees, and $25 million to himself, which he described as a bargain. The bank was facing a potential fine as high as $556 million, according to former White House counsel Kathy Ruemmler, who worked on the case alongside her team by analyzing client files in Switzerland to counter Justice Department claims.

Ruemmler, a former Obama White House attorney, is scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee to address her longstanding ties to Epstein and her role in the negotiations. In a statement to Congress, a representative named Black described Epstein's services as "highly valuable," claiming his work on taxes led to billions in savings and had been vetted by reputable law and accounting firms.

In a recent interview with the New York Times Opinion section, Ruemmler said she did not fully understand the extent of Epstein's crimes until she attended a courtroom hearing following his July 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges.

Congress is expected to hear testimony from a key figure involved in these negotiations on Wednesday, July 16, 2026.

Notable Quotes

  • "All less than 80 [million dollars] pretty good."
  • "If I can be helpful, I would be glad to, I expect no, nor do I want any financial relationship of any kind. I am doing this as my way to do good and to repay a deep debt that I feel I owe to Edmonde."
  • "Thank you much for sharing your thoughts with me. I truly appreciate it as you well know how few people do so and have the courage of their opinions."

Sources