Bill Gates is set to answer questions from US lawmakers over his past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier whose connections to powerful figures continue to draw scrutiny years after his death.
The Microsoft co-founder is expected to appear before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday for a closed-door interview. The session forms part of a wider congressional investigation into Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and the government’s handling of the case.
The committee requested Gates’ testimony after the release of Justice Department documents that renewed attention on his contacts with Epstein.
Gates, one of the world’s most prominent philanthropists, has long faced questions about why he maintained contact with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction in Florida for soliciting a minor for prostitution.
A spokesperson for Gates said he welcomed the opportunity to speak with lawmakers.
“He never witnessed or participated in Epstein’s illegal conduct,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls. His death ended the criminal case against him but left many questions unanswered.
The latest scrutiny centres on documents released by authorities, including a 2013 draft email that appeared to suggest Epstein had helped Gates navigate personal matters linked to extramarital relationships.
Gates has dismissed the email as fake and strongly denied the claims.
Earlier this year, he expressed regret over his association with Epstein.
“Every minute I spent with him, I regret,” Gates said during an interview with Australian television in February.
“I was only at dinners. I never went to his island. I never met any women,” he added.
Gates Defends Past Relationship
Gates has repeatedly argued that his meetings with Epstein had no connection to the financier’s criminal activities.
His relationship with Epstein reportedly began in 2011, three years after Epstein’s guilty plea in Florida. Gates has also acknowledged that his former wife, Melinda French Gates, voiced concerns about Epstein as early as 2013.
Despite those concerns, reports suggest the relationship continued for at least another year.
Melinda French Gates, who divorced Gates in 2021, has said questions about the relationship should be directed to her former husband.
The House Oversight Committee has interviewed several prominent figures during its investigation, including former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Lawmakers are examining what influential associates knew about Epstein and whether authorities were sufficiently transparent in releasing information linked to the case.
Democratic members of the committee have indicated they plan to ask Gates about the extent of his relationship with Epstein and whether he had any knowledge of the financier’s crimes.
Legal experts note that appearing in documents connected to Epstein does not, on its own, suggest criminal wrongdoing.
The interview is not expected to be televised.
US media outlets reported that Gates prepared for the appearance with the help of former Justice Department lawyer John Moran and Jake Greenberg, a former senior investigator for the Oversight Committee.
The session is likely to attract intense public interest as Congress continues to examine one of the most controversial scandals involving wealth, power and influence in modern America.
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