House Oversight Chair James Comer says the panel is weighing whether to call Bill Gates to testify as lawmakers review newly released Epstein-related materials and seek further testimony.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer said Wednesday that he is considering calling Bill Gates to testify as part of the committee’s ongoing investigation into the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, as pressure grows from lawmakers in both parties to question the billionaire.
“We’re certainly looking at that, so we’ll have more to come on that,” Comer said in an interview reported by Politico. Comer added that he has been approached by “multiple Republicans and Democrats on the committee” who want to question Gates, suggesting momentum is building behind the idea.
The Kentucky Republican also said he intends to review an upcoming interview with Gates’ former wife, Melinda Gates, scheduled to air on NPR on Thursday, to determine whether it contains information relevant to the committee’s inquiry into Gates’ past interactions with Epstein.
Gates has faced renewed scrutiny following recent releases of Epstein-related documents that again highlighted his past contacts with the disgraced financier. A new tranche of materials includes allegations that Gates contracted a sexually transmitted disease from women connected to Epstein. A spokesperson for Gates has dismissed those allegations as absurd.
It remains unclear whether Gates would voluntarily cooperate with the committee if asked to testify. In prior public comments, Gates has acknowledged having several dinners with Epstein, saying he believed Epstein could help raise money for global health initiatives. When that did not materialize, Gates said he ended the meetings. In a 2021 interview with PBS NewsHour, he described the dinners as “a mistake.”
Comer said the committee continues to evaluate testimony and documents tied to Epstein as part of its broader oversight work. The chairman has already issued subpoenas to other high-profile figures linked to Epstein, including Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton.
Negotiations with the former president and former secretary of state over testimony terms extended for months before both agreed to sit for closed-door depositions at the end of the month. Their cooperation followed warnings that the committee could pursue contempt of Congress votes if agreements were not reached.
Comer said the committee’s review of newly released materials is ongoing and that additional witnesses could be considered as lawmakers continue examining the scope of Epstein’s connections and any implications for public accountability.
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