Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has been scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee on 10 June 2026, as part of the Republican-led panel’s ongoing investigation into the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. The announcement marks a significant escalation in the committee’s probe and confirms Gates as one of the most high-profile witnesses to face lawmakers in the investigation so far.
What Is the Investigation?
The House Oversight Committee has been investigating how the Department of Justice handled the criminal case against Jeffrey Epstein, the financier convicted of sex offences in 2008 who died in federal custody in August 2019 while awaiting trial on new charges of sex trafficking. The committee is trying to establish whether Epstein’s extensive network of wealthy and powerful connections influenced the handling of his prosecution, and whether his associates have been fully investigated by authorities.
Previous witnesses in the investigation have included former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and retail billionaire Les Wexner. All were deposed in transcribed, private interviews earlier this year.
Gates and Epstein: The Known History
Gates met with Epstein on multiple occasions between 2011 and 2014 — after Epstein had already served his 2008 sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Gates has acknowledged the meetings but consistently described their purpose as charitable, saying they were related to discussions about whether Epstein could help channel Gates Foundation philanthropic capital into global health and development initiatives.
Gates has publicly said he regrets ever meeting Epstein and was unaware of the full extent of his criminal conduct. However, photos and references to Gates have surfaced in documents released through civil litigation connected to Epstein’s victims, deepening the committee’s interest in questioning him directly.
Gates’ Response
A Gates spokesperson confirmed the scheduled testimony and indicated full cooperation. “Gates welcomes the opportunity to appear before the Committee,” the spokesperson said. “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 June 10 session will be a transcribed, closed-door interview — the standard format the committee has used for all witnesses in this investigation. Transcripts of such sessions are typically released publicly at a later date, potentially months after the interview takes place.
Howard Lutnick Also Summoned
Gates is not the only prominent figure called before the committee in the coming weeks. Howard Lutnick, a senior Trump administration official, has also been confirmed as a scheduled witness, according to multiple reports. The committee has cast a deliberately wide net in this investigation, reflecting both the breadth of Epstein’s social network and the political sensitivities involved in examining the powerful figures connected to it.
Why This Still Matters in 2026
Seven years after Epstein’s death, public and political demand for accountability around his network remains intense. Tens of thousands of documents have been unsealed through civil proceedings over recent years, revealing the extent of his connections and prompting repeated questions about whether powerful individuals who may have been aware of his crimes have faced adequate scrutiny. The House investigation is the latest and most formal effort to address those questions.
What to Expect
Given the private, transcribed format of the session, the full details of Gates’ testimony will not be immediately known. His legal team is expected to prepare him thoroughly, and the questions will likely focus on the nature and frequency of his meetings with Epstein, the financial discussions that took place, and whether Gates has information about Epstein’s activities that has not previously entered the public record. The transcript, when eventually released, will be closely scrutinised.