Gates Scheduled for Closed-Door House Interview on Epstein Ties

Bill Gates is scheduled to appear Wednesday before the House Oversight Committee for a transcribed interview examining his past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The session will occur behind closed doors, with a transcript released afterward as part of the panel’s review of documents from the Justice Department’s investigation into the convicted sex offender.

The Microsoft co-founder has not been accused of any criminal conduct related to Epstein. He has repeatedly stated that he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and has described his decision to meet with him as a mistake. A spokesperson for Gates said he welcomes the opportunity to address lawmakers’ questions and supports the committee’s work.

Gates first met Epstein in 2011, three years after Epstein’s Florida conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Their interactions continued until around 2014 and included discussions about philanthropy as well as social meetings. The recently released Justice Department files contain thousands of references to Gates, including emails, calendar entries and photographs, though the presence of a name in such records does not indicate wrongdoing.

The Republican-led committee, chaired by Representative James Comer of Kentucky, has been examining how Epstein’s network operated and how federal authorities handled his case. Other high-profile figures, including former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Attorney General Pam Bondi and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, have also provided testimony or interviews to the panel.

Unlike some earlier appearances that were recorded on video, Gates’s interview will not be filmed. The committee has indicated it will make the transcript public in the coming days. Gates has acknowledged exercising poor judgment in associating with Epstein and has apologized to staff at his foundation for the connection.

The foundation itself has noted that a small number of employees interacted with Epstein after he claimed he could help mobilize resources for global health work. Those contacts have drawn internal scrutiny but have not produced evidence of involvement in Epstein’s illegal activities.

Gates’s appearance comes amid broader congressional interest in Epstein’s connections to influential figures across business, politics and academia. Lawmakers have focused on understanding the extent of Epstein’s reach and whether any institutions overlooked warning signs after his 2008 conviction. The closed format of the interview reflects the committee’s approach to gathering detailed information before deciding what material to release publicly.

Observers expect questions to center on the timeline and nature of the meetings, any communications involving Gates’s advisers, and the circumstances under which the relationship ended. Gates has maintained that he never witnessed or participated in any of Epstein’s criminal conduct.