Hello readers and welcome back to On Politics. Zach Schermele here, USA TODAY's congressional reporter. It's Wednesday, and here on Capitol Hill, the big story is Bill Gates. Let's get into it.
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Epstein's Bill Gates blackmail |
Bill Gates faced the House Oversight Committee this morning over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, whom the Microsoft co-founder said he met in 2011. Epstein promised Gates he could raise billions for public health, a centerpiece of Gates' philanthropic work.
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But those promises were ultimately hollow, Gates told lawmakers, according to a copy of his opening statement obtained by USA TODAY. After Gates soured on their professional relationship, he said Epstein tried to blackmail him.
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"As the public can now see, based on what has been released in the files, Epstein was working to use information about my infidelities – in addition to many lies that he layered on top – to pressure me to re-engage with him," Gates' statement said. "He was unsuccessful in this effort, but it shows some of the ways he tried to leverage his interactions with me to further his agenda."
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Bill Gates arrives for a closed-door interview before the House Oversight Committee investigating late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on June 10, 2026.
Jonathan Ernst, REUTERS
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Gates' remarks stressed he never witnessed criminal conduct or had any indication that Epstein was engaged in it. His statement also said he never went to Epstein's island, ranch or Florida home.
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"I have never victimized anyone," his opening statement said. "While he may have sought to foster a personal relationship, I was never interested in that and never reciprocated."
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A rare Republican holdout |
Rep. Tim Walberg, the chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, was uncharacteristically holding out on his vote for the roughly $70 billion ICE and Border Patrol funding bill yesterday.
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Why? The issue was related to new student loan limits set to take effect July 1, according to a GOP aide familiar with the matter.
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He's not alone in that unease: A few weeks ago, several Republican lawmakers expressed frustration with Education Secretary Linda McMahon about how the caps, which were passed last year as part of the "One Big, Beautiful Bill Act," will impact graduate nursing programs and existing shortages in the healthcare workforce.
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Trump asks for short-term spy law extension |
As Congress barrels toward a Friday deadline to renew a key government surveillance law, President Trump is now asking lawmakers for a short-term extension of the provision while he searches for a new top spy chief.
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Whether that's feasible this week is an open question.
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The debate, over Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, has been roiling Capitol Hill for months. Democrats accused the president of throwing a "live hand grenade" into sensitive negotiations about extending the statute when he nominated Bill Pulte, a federal housing official with no national security experience, to be the next acting director of national intelligence.
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Read more here on the issue that seems to be sucking up all of Congress' time – and, they say, potentially harming national security.
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💬We also want to hear from you! What questions do you have for our team as we get closer to November? Is there a race you’re watching closely? Let us know by jumping in the comments on Reddit or responding to this newsletter. And you can find our answers here, including my explainer on each party's views on ICE funding.
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Zachary Schermele is a congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.
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Congress is struggling to extend a key surveillance law — in part due to privacy concerns and to Trump's pick of Bill Pulte for spy chief.
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The Maine Democrat's personal life drew headlines in a critical Senate contest as voters across four states voted in primaries for the 2026 midterms
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In an exclusive interview, Vice President JD Vance talked about his new book, "Communion," and balancing his Christian faith with his desire for prestige and power.
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Belum ada tanggapan untuk "Bill Gates' turn in the Epstein hot seat"
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