Bill Gates is expected to testify behind closed doors before the House Oversight Committee this week as lawmakers continue investigating Jeffrey Epstein’s network, the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein-related files and the conduct of high-profile figures who had contact with the convicted sex offender.
The Microsoft co-founder is one of several prominent individuals who have been asked to answer questions as part of the committee’s wider Epstein investigation. The Republican-led panel sent Gates a formal request in March seeking a transcribed interview about his relationship with Epstein, the federal government’s handling of the Epstein case and broader questions about sex-trafficking investigations.
Gates’ expected testimony will take place behind closed doors, meaning the public is unlikely to see his answers immediately unless lawmakers later release a transcript or summary. That format has been used for several Epstein-related interviews as the committee continues gathering information.
The inquiry comes after the Justice Department released additional Epstein-related materials, including documents and images that mentioned or showed Gates in connection with Epstein. The existence of those materials does not prove wrongdoing by Gates, but it has renewed scrutiny of why he met with Epstein after Epstein’s 2008 conviction.
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Gates has repeatedly said he regrets spending time with Epstein. Forbes reported that Gates told Gates Foundation staff earlier this year that associating with Epstein was a “huge mistake,” while insisting that he “did nothing illicit” and “saw nothing illicit.”
A Gates spokesperson has also denied allegations of improper conduct connected to Epstein. Gates has said his meetings with Epstein were tied to discussions about philanthropy and possible fundraising, but he has maintained that no Gates Foundation fund with Epstein was ever created.
The Gates Foundation has said it did not pursue a collaboration with Epstein, did not make payments to him and did not employ him. A foundation spokesperson also said the harm Epstein inflicted on women and girls was “horrific” and that the foundation regrets any interactions employees had with him.
Lawmakers are expected to ask Gates about the nature of his meetings with Epstein, what he knew about Epstein’s criminal history at the time, whether Epstein sought influence through philanthropy, and whether Gates had any knowledge of Epstein’s illegal activity or associates.
The committee’s investigation has also included other prominent figures. The House Oversight Committee has pursued testimony from people connected to Epstein’s social, financial and political circles, including former officials, business leaders and Epstein associates. CBS News previously reported that Gates was among seven people asked to testify, alongside figures such as Leon Black, Kathryn Ruemmler and Doug Band.
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi has already appeared for a closed-door interview related to the Epstein probe. The New York Post reported that Bondi defended the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein-related files while saying Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche oversaw the document review.
The Gates interview may attract special attention because of his global public profile. Gates has spent decades building an image around technology, philanthropy and global health. His association with Epstein has become one of the most damaging controversies attached to that legacy, even though Gates has denied involvement in Epstein’s crimes.
The controversy has also affected internal confidence at the Gates Foundation. The Wall Street Journal reported that the foundation opened an external review into its ties with Epstein as Gates faced renewed questions about his past association with the financier.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to charges involving solicitation of prostitution with a minor. He was later arrested again in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges before dying in jail while awaiting trial. His death and the handling of his network have continued to fuel public demands for transparency.
For lawmakers, the goal is not only to question individuals who knew Epstein, but also to determine whether federal agencies mishandled evidence, failed to pursue leads or shielded powerful people from accountability. That broader concern has kept the Epstein investigation politically alive years after his death.
Gates’ testimony could help clarify the extent of his contacts with Epstein and whether Epstein successfully used access to wealthy or influential people to enhance his credibility. It could also give lawmakers more information about how Epstein attempted to attach himself to philanthropic projects.
However, because the interview is closed-door, the immediate public impact may be limited. Lawmakers may later release excerpts, but until then, much of the questioning will remain out of view.
The most important distinction is that Gates’ appearance before the committee does not mean he has been accused of a crime. It means lawmakers want testimony from him because Epstein’s contacts with powerful people remain part of an ongoing congressional review.
Still, the hearing is likely to intensify scrutiny of Gates and his past judgment. His own public statements acknowledge that meeting with Epstein was a serious mistake. The question for Congress is whether there is anything more the public should know.
Why It Matters
The testimony matters because Epstein’s network remains one of the most controversial unresolved scandals involving wealth, power and accountability. Lawmakers want to know whether powerful individuals had knowledge of Epstein’s conduct, whether agencies mishandled the case, and whether any information was withheld from the public.
It also matters because Gates is one of the most prominent figures to be questioned. Even without criminal allegations against him, his past meetings with Epstein raise questions about judgment, access and how Epstein used elite relationships to maintain influence.
What Comes Next
Gates is expected to testify in a closed-door session before the House Oversight Committee. The committee may later release a transcript, excerpts or a summary depending on its investigation.
Lawmakers are also expected to continue interviewing other Epstein-linked figures in the coming weeks as they review documents, prior DOJ actions and unanswered questions about Epstein’s network.
Billionaire Bill Gates was warned in 2014 to maintain a “healthy distance” from Jeffrey Epstein—by an associate who appeared to stay friendly with Epstein until his death—according to an email.
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Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images pic.twitter.com/sxAMvqtJDt— Forbes (@Forbes) June 8, 2026
