Billionaire Bill Gates is set to testify on June 10 before a US congressional committee investigating convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The Microsoft co-founder will participate in a closed-door “transcribed interview,” a format already used for high-profile figures including former US president Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Gates’ appearance follows a March 3 request from the committee seeking his testimony as part of its broader inquiry.
Gates has acknowledged that his association with Epstein was a “huge mistake,” while firmly denying any involvement in the financier’s criminal activities. Speaking at an internal town hall at the Gates Foundation, he said he had two extramarital affairs with Russian women but insisted he “did nothing illicit” and was unaware of any illegal conduct by Epstein.
Documents recently released by the US Justice Department have intensified scrutiny, detailing Epstein’s alleged claims of facilitating Gates’ personal relationships and referencing financial and social connections between the two. Gates has rejected these assertions.
The tech billionaire stated that his relationship with Epstein began in 2011, years after Epstein had pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor. Despite concerns raised by his then-wife, Melinda, in 2013, Gates continued interacting with Epstein for at least another year before cutting ties, later describing the meetings as a mistake.
A spokesperson for Gates said he “welcomes” the opportunity to testify and supports the committee’s work, reiterating that he neither witnessed nor participated in any illegal acts.
The committee has already interviewed several key figures, including former attorney general Bill Barr and former labour secretary Alex Acosta, as it continues its investigation into Epstein’s network and activities.