WASHINGTON — Bill Gates is scheduled to be questioned by the U.S. House Oversight Committee regarding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, whose connections to influential figures have remained the subject of public scrutiny since his death in 2019.
The interview follows the release of Justice Department documents that raised new questions about Gates’ contacts with Epstein. Other prominent figures, including Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and Howard Lutnick, have also appeared before the committee.
A spokesperson for Gates said he welcomed the opportunity to testify and maintained that he “never witnessed or participated in Epstein’s illegal conduct.”
Among the documents under review is a reported 2013 draft email in which Epstein allegedly suggested he had helped Gates manage issues related to extramarital affairs. Gates has denied the allegations and described the email as fake.
Earlier this year, Gates acknowledged that his association with Epstein was a mistake.
“Every minute I spent with him, I regret,” Gates said in a television interview, adding that he met Epstein only at dinners, never visited his private island, and never met women connected to him.
Gates has said his relationship with Epstein began in 2011, several years after Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida to soliciting a minor for prostitution. Reports indicate that Melinda French Gates expressed concerns about the relationship as early as 2013, though Gates continued contact with Epstein for at least another year.
The House Oversight Committee is examining Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell as part of a broader investigation into the government’s handling of the case and the release of related records.
Democratic lawmakers have said they plan to question Gates about what he knew regarding Epstein’s activities and the extent of their relationship.
The interview is expected to be conducted privately and will not be videotaped. Reports also indicate that Gates has retained legal and congressional experts to assist with his preparation for the questioning.