WASHINGTON — The congressional committee investigating disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein is seeking transcribed interviews with Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates and Apollo Global Management co-founder Leon Black.

The two billionaires were among seven people House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer sent letters to on Tuesday requesting interviews for the panel’s investigation.

“Due to public reporting, documents released by the Department of Justice, and documents obtained by the Committee, the Committee believes you have information that will assist in its investigation. Accordingly, we request your testimony at an in person transcribed interview,” the panel wrote in letters released to the public.

Other recipients include Goldman Sachs Group Inc. General Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler, who said through a spokesperson that she “welcomes” the chance to address questions, and tech billionaire Ted Waitt.

Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell has said she was in a relationship with Waitt from 2003 to 2010 and attended Chelsea Clinton’s wedding as Waitt’s guest.

The letters included specific dates requesting each of the recipients appear in front of the committee in the coming months.

Gates has called his relationship with Epstein a “huge mistake” but has denied any wrongdoing. A spokesman for Gates said the billionaire welcomes the opportunity to answer the House panel’s questions and that he never participated in or witnessed any of Epstein’s illegal conduct.

The requested interviews represent the latest effort from House Republicans to shed light on Epstein’s connections to wealthy and powerful figures. Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, testified in closed-door depositions last week, videos of which were later made public.

The New York Times reported in October 2019 that Gates had met with Epstein several times starting in 2011, and once stayed late at his New York townhouse. By this time, Epstein had already pleaded guilty to two prostitution charges.

Gate has said he met with Epstein to discuss a philanthropy project, but their meetings stopped after the likelihood of getting funding diminished.

Black became one of Epstein’s main sources of income in the decade after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to a pair of state charges, including procuring a minor to engage in prostitution.

Black handed off leadership of Apollo in early 2021. Apollo has said there is no evidence that Epstein or any Epstein entity had any relationship with the company or any of its funds despite the convicted sex offender’s repeated efforts to ingratiate himself with other senior executives.

Documents released by the Justice Department in recent months have shed more light on how enmeshed Epstein was in Black’s financial and personal lives. He worked on minimizing Black’s taxes, injected himself into discussions of investment strategies, and at times urged Black to replace executives in his family office.

The documents also show Epstein weighed in as Black tried to deal with a former Russian mistress, Bloomberg reported last month. And some emails show Epstein helped another woman, who had received cash gifts from Black, handle an audit by the Internal Revenue Service.

Black has acknowledged paying Epstein $158 million over the years, saying it was for advice on estate and tax planning.

A representative for Black did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Comer requested Gates come to Washington for an in-person interview on May 19 and Black on May 13.

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