House investigators are turning their attention to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates as Congress continues looking into Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and the federal governmentâs handling of the Epstein case.
Gates is scheduled to sit for a voluntary interview with the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday. The session will take place behind closed doors, though lawmakers are expected to release a transcript later.
Members of the committee are likely to question Gates about his relationship with Epstein, which began years after Epstein served a 2008 prison sentence for soliciting a minor for prostitution. Gates has appeared multiple times in documents released by the federal government as part of its investigation into Epstein, prompting House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., to invite him to testify.
Those files show that Gates and Epstein corresponded between 2011 and 2014. Their communications included discussions about Gatesâ philanthropic work, as well as social meetings. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
According to the documents, Epstein appeared to have learned about Gatesâ extramarital affairs with two Russian women during Gatesâ marriage to Melinda French Gates. Gates has said those affairs did not involve any of Epsteinâs victims.
Gates has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and has denied knowing about Epsteinâs sex crimes involving minors.
âI did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,â Gates said in a town hall recording reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. He also described his decision to spend time with Epstein as a âhuge mistake.â
A spokesperson for Gates previously told Fox News Digital that he welcomed the opportunity to speak with the committee.
âWhile he never witnessed or participated in any of Epsteinâs illegal conduct, he is looking forward to answering all the committeeâs questions to support their important work,â the spokesperson said.
Gates is one of several high-profile figures who have been asked to speak with the oversight panel as part of its Epstein investigation. Billionaire businessman Les Wexner, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick have also participated in interviews with the committee.
Other prominent figures, including Kathryn Ruemmler, who served as White House counsel under former President Barack Obama, and Leon Black, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, are expected to be interviewed in the coming weeks.
Lawmakers from both parties have said they are interested in understanding why powerful people continued to associate with Epstein after his conviction. Gatesâ connection to Epstein has drawn particular scrutiny because their relationship occurred after Epsteinâs criminal record was already public.
House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia, D-Calif., said Tuesday that the committeeâs focus is not partisan.
âWeâve said we donât care if you are a Republican or a Democrat or who you are,â Garcia told reporters. He said Gatesâ continued relationship with Epstein after the conviction was âvery concerning.â
Garcia said lawmakers want to know what Gates knew, who else was involved in Epsteinâs circle, and why Gates continued to have contact with him.
âI think those are important questions,â Garcia said.
The interview comes as lawmakers continue to demand more information about Epsteinâs network, his access to wealthy and politically connected figures, and whether federal authorities fully examined the people around him. Gatesâ testimony is expected to be one of the most closely watched moments in the committeeâs ongoing inquiry.