Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates will be questioned by a House of Representatives committee on Wednesday about his controversial dealings with notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has been investigating Epstein's high-end social network for months, and the wealthy Gates is one of the heavyweights subpoenaed by the committee for questioning.
On May 8, 2025, in New York, the United States, Bill Gates was interviewed by Reuters. He stated on Thursday of that month that he plans to donate almost all of his personal wealth over the next two decades and donate approximately $200 billion to poor people around the world through his foundation.
Gates' testimony came a day after the committee had just completed questioning Leslie Grove, Epstein's former executive assistant for many years.
The chairman of the committee, Republican Representative James Comer of Kentucky, told the media on Tuesday that there were no restrictions on Gates’ questioning and “any question may be asked.”
"According to his lawyer, I can't say that he proactively and eagerly wanted to testify, but he was willing to cooperate and did not resist the subpoena, which I agree with."
The Wall Street Journal reported that Gates met Epstein in 2011.
As early as three years ago, Epstein pleaded guilty in a Florida state court to soliciting underage girls for sex trafficking and served 13 months in prison.
Epstein died by suicide in prison in August 2019, weeks after his arrest on federal child sex trafficking charges.
At the end of 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice and Congress released a batch of documents documenting Epstein and people in his social circle. Gates's interactions with Epstein once again aroused heated public opinion.
There are currently no charges implicating Gates in Epstein's illegal activities.
消费者新闻与商业频道（CNBC）已联系盖茨基金会，希望就盖茨作证一事获取回应。该慈善机构由盖茨与其前妻梅琳达・盖茨共同创立。
The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Gates was hiring Jack Greenberg to help prepare his testimony. Greenberg served as the House Oversight Committee's chief investigative counsel until December.
CNBC has also sought comment from Greenberg himself.
A spokesman for Gates issued a statement in March: "Gates is willing to appear before the committee hearing."
"He never witnessed or participated in any of Epstein's illegal conduct, and he looks forward to answering all of the committee's questions and cooperating with this important investigation," the spokesman said.
At a Gates Foundation all-staff symposium in February this year, Gates apologized to employees for his dealings with Epstein and admitted that he had had extramarital affairs with two Russian women and that Epstein was aware of the relationship.
The report quoted Gates as saying at the apology meeting: "I have never done anything illegal and I have never seen any illegal behavior."
The report also stated that Gates admitted at the symposium: "Associating with Epstein and bringing foundation executives to meet with him were huge mistakes I made."
"I apologize to everyone involved in this incident due to my mistake."
The Gates Foundation previously announced that it has commissioned a third-party agency to comprehensively verify the foundation's past connections with Epstein. The foundation said its board and management will receive a full progress report on the external review this summer.
Warren Buffett, Gates' long-time friend and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, said in an interview with CNBC anchor Becky Quick at the end of March that he had never spoken to Gates since the Epstein-related dossier was made public.
Buffett said: "I don't want to have relevant inside information and end up being called to testify. Until the whole thing comes to light, there is no use in saying more."
He described Epstein as a liar who exploited the weaknesses of others.
"Men are inevitably greedy for beauty, and some want to avoid paying taxes, but he accurately grasped the weaknesses of these people."
Since 2006, Buffett has donated more than $43 billion to the Gates Foundation.