Richland graduate named White House counsel

Usually the words "Bomber in the White House" would cause alarm rather than celebration.

But in this case the Bomber in question is a Richland High School graduate who was named President Obama's top lawyer.

Kathryn Ruemmler, Richland High Class of '89, takes over from Bob Bauer as White House counsel -- one of the top legal jobs in the nation -- at the end of June, and her parents, now living in Pasco, couldn't be more proud.

"It's very exciting," her mother, Patty Ruemmler, told the Herald. "No matter what your political views are, this is an amazing accomplishment."

Obama praised Kathryn Ruemmler's legal and administrative skills in a news release announcing the appointment.

"Kathy is an outstanding lawyer with impeccable judgment," Obama said. "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."

"I am humbled by the trust that the president has placed in me, and I am honored and privileged to serve the country and the president as White House counsel," Ruemmler said in an email to the Herald. "I hope to ably represent my family and friends in the Tri-Cities and make them proud."

Ruemmler, 40, has forged a prominent legal career that includes serving as principal deputy counsel in the White House under Bauer since January 2010.

Prior to that, she worked under the Obama administration in the Department of Justice as principal associate deputy attorney general.

She also served as associate counsel to President Clinton from 2000-01.

In between, she worked in private practice for two years and spent six years as a federal prosecutor, including as co-lead prosecutor in the case against the former CEOs of Enron.

She is a graduate of the University of Washington and Georgetown University Law Center.

Ken Wainstein, former Assistant Attorney General for National Security under the Bush administration, hired Ruemmler into the Justice Department in 2001 and described her as a "true professional."

"She spent much of her career as a prosecutor, a Justice Department official and as a public servant working on tough cases and difficult policy matters -- seeing the tough issues from all sides and has an understanding of how to work through very difficult issues," Wainstein told the Herald on Monday. "That's the kind of skill you really need in the White House counsel. She also is very smart, dedicated to public service, and has integrity and credibility with everyone she works with."

Wainstein said Ruemmler has built a trusted reputation among colleagues of three administrations and two political parties.

"She is someone who came up through the ranks as a career person in the Department of Justice and doesn't have an overly political perspective on the world," he said. "She's respected and admired by people on both sides of the political spectrum."

And she won't be afraid to speak her mind, he added.

"She's strong, and she's a person who's not afraid to give advice even if that advice is difficult to give," Wainstein said. "Her mettle has been tested in some of the toughest cases in court, and she's shown that mettle all the way through her government career. I'm confident we're going to see the same as counsel to the president."

-- Michelle Dupler: 582-1543; mdupler@tricityherald.com

This story was originally published June 7, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Richland graduate named White House counsel."