WASHINGTON, APRIL 9, 2026 —
Bill Gates is scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee on June 10 for a closed-door transcribed interview about his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — the same day that former Attorney General Pam Bondi formally refused to comply with the committee’s subpoena, setting up a potential contempt of Congress proceeding.
The back-to-back developments mark a significant moment in the congressional investigation into Epstein and the powerful people in his orbit — an investigation that has already interviewed Bill and Hillary Clinton, former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, former AG Bill Barr, and Ghislaine Maxwell herself.
Gates, 70, said through a spokesperson that he “welcomes the opportunity to appear before the Committee” and that “while he never witnessed or participated in any of Epstein’s illegal conduct, he is looking forward to answering all the committee’s questions.” The appearance is not an accusation of wrongdoing — appearing in the Epstein files does not indicate criminal conduct — but Gates is expected to face pointed questions about the nature, frequency, and purpose of his meetings with Epstein, and about allegations involving his personal life that surfaced in the released documents.
Bondi, by contrast, will not appear for her April 14 deposition. The Department of Justice sent a letter to committee chairman Rep. James Comer stating she would not testify. California Democrat Rep. Robert Garcia, the ranking member, was direct: “Pam Bondi must come in to testify immediately, and if she defies the subpoena, we will begin contempt charges.”
Who Else Is Testifying — The Full Lineup
| Date | Witness | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| April 14 (canceled) | Pam Bondi | Former AG — oversaw Epstein file release |
| April 30 | Ted Waitt | Gateway founder — romantically tied to Ghislaine Maxwell |
| May 6 | Howard Lutnick | Commerce Secretary — named in files |
| May 18 | Tova Noel | Prison guard — last to see Epstein alive in 2019 |
| June 9 | Lesley Groff | Epstein’s former personal assistant |
| June 10 | Bill Gates | Microsoft co-founder — met Epstein multiple times |
The committee has already completed interviews with both Bill and Hillary Clinton, who initially declined but agreed after contempt threats.
Gates and Epstein — What Is Known
Gates met with Epstein on multiple documented occasions beginning around 2011 — years after Epstein’s 2008 Florida conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Gates has said the meetings were focused on philanthropic fundraising, particularly for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s global health work, and that he regretted the relationship once Epstein’s full history became clear.
The Epstein files released by the Justice Department include references to Gates in the context of allegations that have not been independently verified and which Gates disputes. Gates and his former wife Melinda Gates divorced in 2021 — and reporting since then has raised questions about whether the Epstein relationship was a contributing factor in the breakdown of the marriage, something Gates has denied publicly.
The June 10 interview will be transcribed and closed-door — meaning the full transcript may eventually be released to the public, as the committee has done with previous witnesses.
The Bondi Situation — Why It Matters
Bondi’s refusal is more politically significant than Gates’ scheduled appearance. As Attorney General, Bondi personally oversaw the release of the Epstein files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act — and the manner of that release, including the binders of heavily redacted material distributed to conservative media influencers before broader public release, generated the sharpest criticism of her tenure. It was widely cited as a reason Trump fired her on April 2.
The DOJ’s position — that Bondi as a former AG has some form of executive privilege protection — is legally contested. Democrats on the committee say a fired Cabinet official carries no such protection. If contempt proceedings begin, it would mark an unusual inversion: the Justice Department shielding a former Attorney General from congressional oversight on a matter directly related to her performance in office.
