WASHINGTON: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is set to face questioning on Wednesday by US lawmakers over his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, amid renewed scrutiny of Epstein’s network of high-profile contacts.
Gates, one of the world’s wealthiest individuals and a prominent philanthropist, is scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee for a transcribed interview focused on his relationship with Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges involving underage girls.
Lawmakers requested Gates’ testimony following the release of Justice Department documents that raised new questions about his interactions with Epstein. Several other prominent figures, including former US President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, have also been questioned by the panel.
A spokesperson for Gates said he welcomed the opportunity to testify and denied any involvement in Epstein’s criminal activity, stating that he had “never witnessed or participated in Epstein’s illegal conduct.”
Documents reviewed by investigators include a 2013 draft email in which Epstein appeared to suggest he had assisted Gates in managing reputational concerns related to personal matters. Gates has dismissed the email as fake and has denied the allegations.
Gates has previously acknowledged meeting Epstein at dinners but said he regretted the association. He has stated he never visited Epstein’s private island or met any of his victims.
The House Oversight Committee is examining Epstein’s network and the US government’s handling of the case, including disclosures related to Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
The interview will not be broadcast publicly, unlike previous committee proceedings involving other witnesses.