Bill Gates is due to appear Wednesday before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for a closed-door interview about his relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to the Associated Press.
The House Oversight Committee is interviewing the Microsoft co-founder behind closed doors, marking the panel's 15th Epstein-related session
ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images
Bill Gates is due to appear Wednesday before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for a closed-door interview about his relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to the Associated Press.
Gates' appearance marks the committee's 15th witness interview in its probe of Epstein's network, according to CNN. Committee Chair James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, told reporters ahead of the interview that there were no limitations on the scope of questions. "Anything's on the table," Comer said, according to CNBC.
To assist with his preparation, Gates hired Jake Greenberg — the committee's former top investigative official, who left that role in December — according to The New York Times. Ethics experts interviewed by the Times said the hiring could raise uncomfortable optics around such a prominent investigation.
DOJ documents that showed Gates attending meetings with Epstein, Gates' inner circle maintaining regular contact with the financier, and the two exchanging emails about charitable work prompted Comer to formally summon Gates before the committee. According to those documents, Gates and Epstein began associating a full three years after Epstein's Florida guilty plea on a prostitution-related charge involving a minor, with documented contact extending through at least the end of 2014.
The DOJ materials include a pair of 2013 draft emails, apparently composed by Epstein and addressed to himself, that contain graphic and unverified claims — among them that Epstein procured drugs for Gates connected to affairs outside his marriage. A Gates representative called the allegations baseless, telling CNN the emails reflect nothing more than Epstein's anger over his inability to maintain a connection with Gates rather than any factual account of events.
Gates has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
In a statement issued in March, a spokesperson for Gates said he had no firsthand exposure to any of Epstein's criminal behavior and was prepared to cooperate fully with lawmakers' questions.
Earlier this year, Warren Buffett said he had not spoken to Gates since the Epstein documents began to surface, citing concern about potential legal exposure. Buffett, who has given over $43 billion to the Gates Foundation over the years, characterized Epstein as someone who made a practice of identifying and taking advantage of powerful people's vulnerabilities.
An outside audit of the Gates Foundation's historical dealings with Epstein is currently underway, launched by CEO Mark Suzman in March; foundation leadership is slated to receive a progress report before the end of summer.
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