Howard Lutnick and Commerce Department

The House Oversight Committee has scheduled several voluntary, transcribed interviews in its Jeffrey Epstein probe, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on May 6 and Bill Gates on June 10, along with Ted Waitt (April 30), corrections officer Tova Noel (May 18) and Lesley Groff (June 9). All five agreed to appear after March 3 request letters, the committee granted anonymity to sources discussing the schedule, and Chairman Comer said he will consult GOP members and the Justice Department about next steps for a subpoenaed April 14 deposition of former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, while interest has grown in Lutnick after he acknowledged a 2012 lunch with Epstein despite earlier saying he cut ties in 2005.