Bill Gates will testify about Epstein; Pam Bondi will not for now : NPR

Bill Gates speaks at an event in New York in September 2024. He is scheduled to testify before a House committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein.

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Bill Gates is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee in June, adding to the list of figures summoned before the committee as part of its investigation into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Gates, who has denied knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, will participate in a transcribed closed-door interview on June 10, according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to share details publicly. Gates’ planned appearance was first reported by MSNOW.

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi was subpoenaed by the committee in March to discuss her role in overseeing the release of the Epstein files, but will not appear for her scheduled April 14 deposition.

In a letter to Kentucky Republican Rep. James Comer, the committee’s chairman, Assistant Attorney General Patrick Davis said that “because Ms. Bondi can no longer testify in her official capacity as Attorney General, the Department’s position is that the subpoena no longer requires her to appear on April 14.” »

The House Oversight Committee said in a statement that the committee “will contact Pam Bondi’s personal attorney to discuss next steps regarding scheduling her deposition.”

California Rep. Robert Garcia, the committee’s top Democrat, said in a statement that Bondi “must come and testify immediately, and if she defies the subpoena, we will launch contempt of Congress charges. Survivors deserve justice.”

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee during her confirmation hearing on January 15 in Washington, DC.

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Gates Appears Thousands of Times in Epstein Files

Gates is one of several influential people named in Justice Department documents regarding the disgraced financier. Appearing in records is not necessarily an indication of criminal wrongdoing.

A spokesperson for Gates said in an emailed statement to NPR that Gates “welcomes the opportunity to appear before the Committee.”

“While he never witnessed or participated in any of Epstein’s illegal conduct, he looks forward to answering all of the committee’s questions in support of its important work,” the statement said.

Gates appears thousands of times in Epstein’s files, allegedly meeting with Epstein several times after the financier’s 2008 conviction for sex crimes involving minors, and at one point traveling on Epstein’s private plane.

Epstein was arrested a second time in July 2019 on sex trafficking charges. He died in prison about a month later.

Gates also drew attention to emails mentioning his now ex-wife, Melinda French Gates. In one case, Epstein claims he helped Gates obtain medication to treat an STI that resulted from “sex with Russian girls.” Epstein also said that Gates wanted to try to secretly give this STI medication to French Gates.

French Gates told NPR in February that the latest flood of documents filled her with “incredible sadness” and reminded her of the difficulties she had faced in her marriage.

“Whatever questions there are about what — I can’t even begin to know everything — those questions are for these people and even for my ex-husband,” French Gates said. “They have to answer for these things, not me.”

According to the source familiar with the matter but not authorized to share details publicly, others expected to appear before the committee include Ted Waitt, the Gateway co-founder who was allegedly romantically involved with Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell on April 30; Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who the Republican-led committee previously announced would testify voluntarily on May 6; and Tova Noel, one of the officers at Manhattan’s Metropolitan Correctional Center assigned to guard Epstein the night he died, May 18.

The Waitt Foundation did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Comer, the committee chairman, said in a March statement that Lutnick “proactively agreed to appear voluntarily” and that he “commended[s] its demonstrated commitment to transparency. Noel also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Who has already testified?

Eight other figures have already testified before the committee: former Attorney General Bill Barr, former Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta, Maxwell, Les Wexner, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Richard Kahn and Darren Indyke.

Here are some of the personalities who have testified so far.

Ghislaine Maxwell

Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking in 2021 and is serving a 20-year sentence. She was transferred to a minimum-security federal women’s prison in Texas after an interview with then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in July 2025.

During his testimony before the committee in February, Maxwell refused to testify, citing his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.

His lawyer told the committee that Maxwell would provide “the unfiltered truth about what happened” if the committee granted him immunity or if President Trump granted him clemency.

Bill and Hillary Clinton

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were separately impeached in February after unsuccessfully fighting a committee subpoena.

Over hours of closed-door testimony, the Clintons both denied knowledge of Epstein’s crimes before his 2008 guilty plea to soliciting prostitution and recruiting a minor for prostitution.

“I saw nothing and I did nothing wrong,” the former president said in an opening statement shared with NPR.

Bill Clinton appears several times in the documents, including in photos with Epstein.

In her testimony, Hillary Clinton denied ever meeting Epstein.

The committee released a video of the Clintons’ full depositions.

Richard Kahn

Richard Kahn, Epstein’s former accountant, testified before the committee in a closed-door deposition in March. Kahn said he was “unaware” of Epstein’s crimes and regretted having “unknowingly assisted Epstein in any way,” according to a copy of his prepared opening statement obtained by NPR.

Kahn is mentioned more than 50,000 times in the files. For more than a decade, Kahn managed Epstein’s finances through his company HBRK Associates Inc., advising him on numerous transactions, including medical reimbursements for the “girls.”

Darren Indyke

Darren Indyke, Epstein’s longtime personal attorney, testified before the committee in a closed-door deposition in March that he had “no knowledge” of Epstein’s crimes against women and girls, according to a copy of his opening statement prepared and obtained by NPR.

Indyke is widely considered to be part of Epstein’s inner circle, alongside Kahn. In 2017, Indyke was reported by a bank for making “structured cash transactions” in Epstein’s account to avoid federal requirements.

Two days before his death, Epstein named Indyke co-executor of his estate, alongside Kahn, the accountant. Both are named as beneficiaries of Epstein’s estate.

NPR’s Luke Garrett contributed reporting to this story.