Bill Gates will testify before the House Oversight Committee on June 10 in a closed-door session about his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, adding the Microsoft founder to a growing list of prominent figures called before Congress in the sex trafficking investigation.
Gates will sit for a transcribed interview behind closed doors, according to a source familiar with the matter. The billionaire philanthropist has repeatedly denied knowing about Epstein's crimes, despite appearing thousands of times in Department of Justice documents related to the disgraced financier.
The committee's Epstein probe hit a snag this week when former Attorney General Pam Bondi failed to appear for her scheduled April 14 deposition. Assistant Attorney General Patrick Davis told committee chair James Comer that Bondi no longer had to comply with her March subpoena because she left office. "Because Ms. Bondi no longer can testify in her official capacity as Attorney General, the Department's position is that the subpoena no longer obligates her to appear," Davis wrote.
Democrats aren't buying the Justice Department's legal reasoning. California Rep. Robert Garcia, the committee's ranking Democrat, threatened contempt charges if Bondi continues to duck testimony. "The survivors deserve justice," Garcia said in a statement. The committee said it would contact Bondi's personal lawyers to reschedule her appearance.
Gates faces more scrutiny than most Epstein associates because of the timing and extent of their relationship. The tech mogul allegedly met with Epstein multiple times after the financier's 2008 conviction on sex crimes involving minors. Gates even traveled on Epstein's private plane, according to the DOJ files. One email suggests Epstein claimed he helped Gates obtain medication for a sexually transmitted infection, adding another layer to their relationship that has drawn intense public interest.
A Gates spokesperson struck a cooperative tone ahead of his testimony. "While he never witnessed or participated in any of Epstein's illegal conduct, he is looking forward to answering all the committee's questions to support their important work," the spokesperson told NPR. Gates "welcomes the opportunity to appear before the Committee," they added.
The committee's investigation gained momentum after the release of thousands of pages of Epstein-related documents, though appearing in the files doesn't necessarily indicate criminal wrongdoing. Epstein died in federal custody in August 2019, about a month after his arrest on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.
The Gates testimony represents the highest-profile witness yet in the House probe, potentially offering new details about how Epstein cultivated relationships with powerful figures even after his initial conviction. Bondi's absence has already sparked bipartisan criticism, with some Republicans joining Democrats in calling for contempt proceedings.
The committee now faces a two-track challenge: securing Bondi's eventual testimony while preparing for Gates' June appearance. How Gates handles questions about his post-conviction meetings with Epstein could determine whether the probe expands to other tech leaders and philanthropists mentioned in the files.
