Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates prepared to answer questions Wednesday before U.S. lawmakers regarding his ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, whose network of influential and wealthy associates has prompted years of suspicion and conspiracy theories. Gates, a billionaire philanthropist and one of the world’s wealthiest men, was scheduled to participate in a transcribed interview with the House Oversight Committee concerning Epstein. Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking involving minors.
The committee summoned Gates after the Justice Department released documents that sparked fresh questions about his interactions with Epstein. Several notable figures, including Bill and Hillary Clinton and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, have previously testified before the committee.
A Gates spokesperson told AFP that the billionaire welcomed the opportunity to testify and stressed that he had “never witnessed or participated in Epstein’s illegal activity.” The released files include a 2013 draft email in which Epstein appeared to suggest he had helped Gates manage the fallout from extramarital affairs, including seeking antibiotics after a sexually transmitted infection. Gates has dismissed this email as fake and denied any wrongdoing.
In interviews, Gates acknowledged that it was a mistake to associate with Epstein and clarified that their relationship was strictly social, with Gates attending dinners but never visiting Epstein’s island or meeting his victims. Gates stated, “Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologize for that… It’s true I was only at dinners. I never went to his island or met any women involved.”
Gates also mentioned that his then-wife, Melinda French Gates, expressed concerns about Epstein in 2013, but he continued their association for at least another year. Melinda Gates, who divorced Gates in 2021, has stated that questions about their past relationship should be addressed to her ex-husband and others involved.
The House Oversight Committee has been examining Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell as part of a broader investigation into the government’s handling of the case and the information it has released. Former President Donald Trump, who also had a relationship with Epstein, initially opposed unveiling certain files, leading to accusations of a cover-up during his early months in office.
Democrats plan to ask Gates about what he knew concerning Epstein’s criminal activities and the depth of their relationship. Unlike previous committee interviews, this session will not be recorded on video.
It was reported that Gates retained former Justice Department lawyer John Moran and received guidance from Jake Greenberg, a former investigator for the committee, a move that raised some ethical questions but was not seen as a rule violation.
