Bill Gates to appear before House committee investigating Epstein

Washington — Bill Gates volition look earlier the House Oversight Committee for a transcribed interrogation arsenic portion of the panel's probe into Jeffrey Epstein, according to a root acquainted with the plans.

The Microsoft co-founder is scheduled for questioning connected June 10, the root said. 

Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the panel's Republican chairman, wrote to Gates connected March 3 requesting helium look for the interview. 

"Due to nationalist reporting, documents released by the Department of Justice, and documents obtained by the Committee, the Committee believes you person accusation that volition assistance successful its investigation," Comer wrote astatine the time.

Gates, who is 1 of the world's wealthiest people, apologized successful February to the unit of his philanthropic Gates Foundation for his ties to Epstein. He said their narration lasted from 2011 done 2014. 

In July 2013, Epstein sent himself a brace of emails containing unverified allegations that Gates had extramarital "sex with Russian girls" that resulted successful a sexually transmitted corruption requiring antibiotic treatment. In 1 email, Epstein claimed Gates besides sought to "surreptitiously give" antibiotics to his then-wife, Melinda Gates.

A spokesperson for Gates told CBS News successful January that the "claims are perfectly absurd and wholly false. The lone happening these documents show is Epstein's vexation that helium did not person an ongoing narration with Gates and the lengths helium would spell to entrap and defame."

The Wall Street Journal reported successful February that astatine the aforesaid worker municipality hallway wherever Gates apologized to staff, helium admitted that helium "did person affairs, 1 with a Russian span subordinate who met maine astatine span events, and 1 with a Russian atomic physicist who I met done concern activities." 

Later emails and substance messages amusement Epstein sought to rekindle his relationship with Gates, and unafraid an investment.

Epstein wanted to transportation Gates connected a donor-advised fund, a tax-deductible charitable conveyance that Epstein wanted to operate, but it ne'er materialized. 

Text messages from 2017 released by legislature investigators successful November amusement Epstein communicating with an evident advisor to Gates astir the proposal.

The advisor said Gates was funny successful the idea, but said Melinda Gates didn't privation him to pass with Epstein. The 2 divorced successful 2021.

"He wants to speech to you but his woman won't fto him," the advisor said. In a bid of texts a infinitesimal later, the advisor said of Gates, "he loves you," "he says hi," and "he feels atrocious astir the [donor advised fund] btw He thought large thought but woman wouldn't allow."

The Gates Foundation did not instantly reply to a petition for comment.

Gates is the latest successful a procession of celebrated and almighty figures to beryllium for depositions earlier the Oversight Committee's Epstein investigators. 

Others who person appeared see erstwhile President Bill Clinton, erstwhile Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, billionaire Les Wexner and convicted enactment trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell. 

The committee has besides requested interviews with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, erstwhile White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler and Doug Band, Bill Clinton's longtime aide. Lutnick is scheduled to look connected May 6.