A former Justice Department Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General will serve as White House Counsel, President Barack Obama announced Thursday.
Kathryn Ruemmler will succeed White House Counsel Bob Bauer, who will step down at the end of this month to rejoin Perkins Coie LLP, where he worked prior to joining the Obama administration in January 2010. Ruemmler served as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General, the no. 2 position in the DAG’s office, from January 2009 to January 2010, when she became Principal Deputy White House Counsel.
She also worked as a DOJ lawyer from 2001 to 2007, serving as co-lead prosecutor in the successful prosecution of former Enron officials. Ruemmler got the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service for her efforts on the Enron case.
From 2007 to 2009, Ruemmler was a litigation partner at the law firm of Latham & Watkins LLP in D.C. She also was an Associate Counsel to President Bill Clinton from 2000 to 2001.
“Kathy is an outstanding lawyer with impeccable judgment,” Obama said in a statement. “Together, Bob and Kathy have led the White House Counsel’s office, and Kathy will assure that it continues to successfully manage its wide variety of responsibilities.”
Ruemmler and Bauer came to the White House Counsel’s Office following the departure of White House Counsel Greg Craig. Craig, now a partner at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, is representing onetime presidential candidate John Edwards as the DOJ investigates him for alleged campaign law violations in connection with efforts to cover up an extra-marital affair.
Bauer will continue to aid Obama once Ruemmler takes over. He will be Obama’s personal lawyer and general counsel to the president’s re-election campaign, in addition to serving as general counsel to the Democratic National Committee.
