Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and former Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are among several prominent figures scheduled to provide sworn testimony to members of Congress investigating the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The House Oversight Committee has secured interviews with both men as part of its ongoing probe into Epstein's alleged connections to a wider network of powerful individuals.
Schedule of High-Profile Testimonies
According to people familiar with the arrangements, Howard Lutnick will sit for an interview with the House Oversight Committee on May 6, while Bill Gates is scheduled to appear on June 10. These interviews come amid mounting pressure from lawmakers seeking to uncover the full extent of Epstein's activities and his associations with influential figures across various sectors.
Gates' Response to Congressional Summons
Bill Gates was formally summoned by the committee's Republican chair James Comer last month, who stated that "due to public reporting, documents released by the Department of Justice, and documents obtained by the Committee, the Committee believes you have information that will assist in its investigation." A spokesperson for Gates confirmed that he "welcomes the opportunity to appear before the committee" and is "looking forward to answering all the committee's questions to support their important work."
The billionaire philanthropist has consistently denied any connection to Epstein's criminal activities. In a recent statement to employees at his charitable foundation, Gates acknowledged that "it was a huge mistake to spend time with Epstein" and apologized to "other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made." He emphasized that he "never witnessed or participated in any of Epstein's illegal conduct" and "never spent any time with victims, the women around him."
Lutnick's Controversial Connections
Former Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has similarly denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, who died in a New York City jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. However, documents released by the Department of Justice suggest Lutnick maintained contact with Epstein in the years following his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution in Florida.
Lutnick admitted to the Senate Appropriations Committee in February that he and his family had lunch with Epstein on Little St. James, his private Caribbean island, in December 2012. This admission has sparked bipartisan outrage and calls for his resignation from the Trump administration, though he remains scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee next month.
Broader Congressional Investigation
The scheduled testimonies come despite Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's recent statement that there will be no further releases of Epstein files, despite millions of documents remaining unreleased. The House Oversight Committee continues to pursue its investigation independently, seeking sworn interviews from multiple high-profile individuals who may have information about Epstein's activities and connections.
Gates revealed that he first met Epstein in 2011, three years after Epstein's Florida conviction, but claimed he was only vaguely aware of travel restrictions imposed on the financier. He also acknowledged that his then-wife, Melinda Gates, had expressed concerns about Epstein as early as 2013, stating that "knowing what I know now makes it, you know, a hundred times worse in terms of not only his crimes in the past, but now it's clear there was ongoing bad behavior."
The congressional investigation represents one of the most significant official probes into Epstein's network since his death, with lawmakers determined to uncover the full scope of his alleged criminal enterprise and its connections to powerful figures across business, politics, and philanthropy.
