The House Oversight Committee has ordered seven prominent figures, including Microsoft founder Bill Gates and billionaire Leon Black, to testify about their connections to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, marking a major expansion of the congressional investigation.

High-Profile Witnesses Summoned

Committee Chairman James Comer sent letters Tuesday demanding testimony from Gates, Black, former Obama White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler, and four others with documented ties to Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The summons follows last week’s interviews with former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton. Gates has agreed to appear on May 19, with his spokesperson stating he welcomes the opportunity to answer questions despite never witnessing or participating in illegal conduct. Black faces a May 13 testimony date.

Serious Allegations Surface

Black faces accusations in a 2023 lawsuit alleging he raped an autistic 16-year-old girl at Epstein’s Manhattan residence in 2002. The victim claimed Epstein and Maxwell groomed her as a living doll for wealthy associates. Black, who left Apollo Global Management in 2021, previously hired Epstein for tax advice. Department of Justice documents released during the Epstein investigation revealed Gates reportedly had affairs with two Russian women that Epstein discovered, though Gates maintains they did not involve Epstein’s victims.

Additional Witnesses Include Former Staff

The committee also called Lesley Groff and Sarah Kellen, both former Epstein employees, along with Doug Band, a longtime Clinton aide, and tech billionaire Ted Waitt, a former Maxwell boyfriend. Ruemmler, who resigned from Goldman Sachs over Epstein ties, will testify on April 21. Her spokesperson confirmed she did not know about criminal activity, noting she was a criminal defense attorney who represented a client in common with Epstein at the time. Justice Department documents show she received gifts from Epstein and advised him on handling media questions.

Investigation Expands Reach

Chairman Comer wrote that public reporting, Justice Department documents, and materials obtained by the committee indicate each witness possesses information vital to the investigation. The roughly 3 million emails released by the DOJ during the Epstein probe continue providing leads for investigators. Gates acknowledged in February that spending time with Epstein was foolish, telling a town hall he did nothing illicit and saw nothing illegal. The committee’s probe represents one of the most comprehensive congressional examinations of Epstein’s network of powerful connections.