Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is among seven people who on Tuesday were asked to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee regarding its ongoing investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The six others are
- Lesley Groff, a former longtime executive assistant to Epstein;
- Sarah Kellen, another former Epstein employee;Â
- Kathryn Ruemmler, former White House counsel to former President Barack Obama;Â
- Leon Black, co-founder of Apollo Global Management;Â
- Doug Band, a longtime personal aide and counselor to former President Bill Clinton, who along with his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, both testified separately on Epstein before the House Oversight Committee last week;
- Tech billionaire Ted Waitt, a former boyfriend of Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who attended Chelsea Clinton’s 2010 wedding as a guest of Maxwell.
In the seven letters, House Oversight Committee chair James Comer writes that the committee believes the recipients “have information that will assist in its investigation.”
Comer explains that the committee is reviewing the “alleged mismanagement of the federal government’s investigation” into Epstein and Maxwell, ways in which Epstein and Maxwell “sought to curry favor and exercise influence to protect their illegal activities,” and “potential violations of ethics rules related to elected officials.”
The seven were given testimony dates ranging from April 16 to June 9.
A spokesperson for Gates indicated that he planned to testify before the committee.
“Gates welcomes the opportunity to appear before the Committee,” “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.”
Jennifer Connelly, a spokesperson for Ruemmler, “welcomes the opportunity to appear before the Committee.”
“At the time she interacted with Jeffrey Epstein, she was a practicing criminal defense attorney and shared a client with him,” the spokesperson said. “She has done nothing wrong and had no knowledge of any ongoing criminal activity on his part.”
An attorney for Groff said she had no comment on the letter.
Reporters has also reached out to Black, Band and Waitt for comment, and is attempting to contact Kellen. None of the seven have been criminally charged with wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
