WASHINGTON, June 10 – The Microsoft founder appeared before Congress on Wednesday as lawmakers examine how the Justice Department managed the Jeffrey Epstein case, drawing attention to the tech billionaire’s connections with the convicted sex offender who targeted vulnerable women and girls from disadvantaged circumstances.
The technology mogul provided private testimony to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is examining potential federal mishandling in prosecutions involving Epstein and his partner Ghislaine Maxwell, along with related matters.
U.S. Representative James Comer, the Republican committee chairman, requested the Microsoft founder’s appearance through a March letter seeking an in-person recorded interview.
The witness retained Jake Greenberg, who served as the oversight panel’s chief investigative official until December, to assist with preparation for his appearance, the New York Times reported on Tuesday. A committee spokesperson confirmed to Reuters the panel has not collaborated with Greenberg following his departure.
Epstein admitted guilt to a Florida state felony prostitution charge in 2008 and completed 13 months behind bars.
Federal authorities brought sex trafficking of minors charges against him in 2019. Epstein entered a not guilty plea to those accusations and died in what officials determined was a suicide later that year prior to trial.
Justice Department documents released this year revealed that the Microsoft founder and Epstein held multiple meetings following Epstein’s 2008 incarceration to explore expanding the tech mogul’s charitable work.
The materials also contained photographs of the tech billionaire with females whose identities are concealed. The Microsoft founder has stated previously that his association with Epstein focused solely on philanthropy-related conversations and has acknowledged meeting with him was an error.
The witness “took responsibility for his actions” during a February town hall session with employees of his foundation, a spokesperson for the charitable organization informed Reuters.
The Microsoft founder’s association with Epstein has impacted his foundation, which announced in April it had initiated an external examination of its interactions with the deceased financier. Electronic communications released in January by the U.S. Justice Department also revealed correspondence between Epstein and the foundation’s personnel.
The House committee’s investigation encompasses authorities’ management of investigations and prosecutions, plea agreements, Epstein’s death, shortcomings in fighting sex trafficking, ethics issues and postponements in releasing government records.
The Justice Department’s disclosure of millions of internal documents concerning Epstein exposed his connections to numerous influential figures in politics, finance, academia and business, including President Donald Trump, who maintained extensive social ties with Epstein during the 1990s and 2000s.
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi, dismissed by Trump in April, encountered severe criticism regarding her case management, including allegations from critics that she attempted to protect Trump from examination.
Trump resisted releasing the documents until just before Congress decisively approved legislation mandating their disclosure.
