Ted Waitt, a wealthy tech businessman and philanthropist, is set to appear before the House Oversight Committee on Thursday as part of its far-reaching investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
Waitt, who was in a romantic relationship with Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell for several years in the early 2000s, is scheduled to sit for a transcribed interview with the Republican-led panel at 10 a.m. ET.
Waitt is a co-founder of Gateway, a computer company that was prominent in the 1990s and early 2000s. He is the founder and chairman of the ocean conservation-focused Waitt Institute. A bio on the institute’s website describes him as “National Geographic Society’s largest living donor.” His name and emails appear in documents released publicly by the Department of Justice related to the Epstein case, including emails between him and Maxwell. He has not been accused of wrongdoing.
At her transcribed interview by now-acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Maxwell explained that in 2003, after her relationship with Epstein had ended, she “fell very much in love” with Waitt, whom she initially met at a dinner in Hong Kong. At the time, Maxwell stated, Epstein had used his plane to take former President Bill Clinton and some of his staff on a trip, and she accompanied them. She said Waitt came to the dinner to see Clinton.
Maxwell also told Blanche that while she distanced herself from Epstein as her relationship with Waitt developed, Epstein continued to pay her for various tasks, including looking after his ailing mother and managing his properties, through 2008 or 2009.
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Waitt was also the reason Maxwell was at Chelsea Clinton’s wedding, as a now-famous photograph of the event reflects. In her deposition before the oversight committee on Feb. 27, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “[Maxwell] was there as a guest of Ted Waitt — someone we had known for 30 years, I believe — who was a strong supporter of my husband and became a friend.”
By the time Maxwell was charged with sex trafficking and other crimes in the Southern District of New York, her unsuccessful bail application was supported by one of Waitt’s children, Emily Waitt. In a letter to the court published by the Justice Department, Emily Waitt wrote that Maxwell “dated and lived with my father from when I was 10-17 years old, and we continue to be in touch today.” While Emily Waitt told the court that she saw Maxwell “as an example of a strong, caring woman” who “taught me a lot about generosity, determination, and resilience,” she noted that she did not write to discuss the charges against Maxwell, “to plead that she is innocent or argue that she is guilty.”
A letter sent by the oversight committee to Ted Waitt on March 2 says, “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.”
The committee has already deposed Bill and Hillary Clinton, as well as billionaire Les Wexner and Epstein’s former lawyer and accountant. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is set to testify before the panel on May 6. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi is scheduled to testify on May 29 and billionaire Bill Gates on June 10.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Lisa Rubin is MS NOW's senior legal reporter and a former litigator.