WASHINGTON — Bill Gates appeared before a House committee on Wednesday for a transcribed interview as part of an ongoing congressional probe into connections involving the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, officials and committee statements said.
The Microsoft co-founder voluntarily testified before the House Oversight Committee, which is examining federal handling of cases related to Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Gates addressed his past meetings with Epstein between 2011 and 2014, which he has previously described as an effort to raise philanthropic funding.
In prepared remarks, Gates stated that he made “a grave error in judgment” by associating with Epstein and denied knowledge of the convicted sex offender’s criminal activities at the time. He also addressed reports that Epstein had learned of his extramarital affairs and attempted to leverage that information.
“I have never victimized anyone,” Gates said, according to excerpts from his testimony reported by multiple outlets.
Committee Chairman James Comer, a Republican, had requested the interview in March. The closed-door session focused on Gates’ interactions with Epstein and any potential implications for federal matters under review. Gates has long maintained that he did not know the full extent of Epstein’s crimes when the meetings occurred.
The probe forms part of broader congressional scrutiny of Epstein’s network and related federal investigations. Epstein died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Gates’ foundation has emphasized that any contacts ended years ago and were unrelated to its global health and development work.
Gates’ philanthropy through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has focused heavily on global health initiatives, including vaccine distribution and disease eradication efforts. The testimony occurred amid continued public interest in Epstein-related documents and investigations.
No immediate findings or recommendations from the committee were released following the session. Gates departed the Capitol after the interview without public comments beyond his prepared statement. Further proceedings in the congressional inquiry are expected in the coming weeks as lawmakers continue reviewing evidence and witness accounts.
