Bill Gates to Testify Before Congress on Epstein Ties After Appearing in DOJ Files

Bill Gates is set to testify before the Republican-led House Oversight Committee on June 10 about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, according to reports from The Washington Post and Politico. The Microsoft founder appears repeatedly in Justice Department documents connected to the investigation of the late financier and convicted sex offender.

The DOJ files include email exchanges between Gates and Epstein discussing philanthropic projects, calendar entries documenting their meetings, and photographs of Gates at events both men attended. Gates has not been accused of any wrongdoing and denies knowledge of Epstein's crimes, but his name surfacing in the documents has put him squarely in the crosshairs of Congress' ongoing probe into how the Justice Department handled the Epstein case.

In a statement, a Gates spokesperson said the billionaire "welcomes" the opportunity to testify. "While he never witnessed or participated in any of Epstein's illegal conduct, he is looking forward to answering all the committee's questions to support their important work," the spokesperson told reporters.

Gates has previously acknowledged meeting with Epstein to discuss philanthropy, claiming he believed the financier could help raise money for global health initiatives. But he has also expressed regret about those meetings. "Every minute that I spent with him I regret and I apologize that I did that," Gates told Australia's 9News in February.

The relationship created significant problems in Gates' marriage to Melinda French Gates, who exited the Gates Foundation in 2024 to focus on her own philanthropic work through Pivotal Ventures. When asked about her ex-husband's Epstein connections, French Gates said he must "answer to those things."

The House Oversight Committee has been conducting a wide-ranging investigation into the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein case, interviewing a roster of high-profile figures who had contact with the disgraced financier. The panel has already spoken with former Attorney General Bill Barr, former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's longtime associate who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for helping recruit underage victims.

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also sat for closed-door depositions about their ties to Epstein. Clinton's testimony lasted more than six hours.

Epstein cultivated relationships with celebrities, politicians, billionaires, and academics throughout his career, including Gates, Clinton, and President Donald Trump. He was first accused of sexually abusing underage girls in 2005, but a secret deal with the U.S. attorney in Florida allowed him to avoid federal charges. Instead, he pleaded guilty in 2008 to a state-level prostitution charge and served just 13 months in a jail work-release program.

Manhattan federal prosecutors revived the case in 2019, charging Epstein with sex trafficking and alleging he sexually abused dozens of girls. He died by suicide in jail a month after his arrest.

The Justice Department's release of Epstein-related documents has reignited public scrutiny of the powerful men who maintained relationships with him even after his 2008 conviction. New photos released by House Oversight Democrats show Gates with an unidentified woman and with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, at events connected to Epstein's social circle.

What remains unclear is exactly what the committee hopes to uncover from Gates' testimony. The panel is focused on how the Justice Department investigated Epstein and whether officials adequately pursued leads involving his associates and enablers. Gates' appearance could shed light on how Epstein leveraged his philanthropic connections to maintain his social standing and access to elite circles, even after his conviction.

Top DOJ officials, including former Attorney General Pam Bondi and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, briefed the House Oversight Committee in mid-March in a closed-door session. Democratic members of the committee spoke to reporters after that meeting, though details of the discussion remain largely under wraps.

Gates' June testimony will be one of the highest-profile moments in the committee's investigation so far. Whether it produces new revelations about Epstein's network of enablers or simply confirms what is already known remains to be seen.