Bill Gates to Testify Before Congress, Expresses Regret Over Epstein Association

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is expected to be questioned by U.S. congress members tomorrow regarding his relationship with the late, wealthy sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Gates had previously admitted to regretting his association with Epstein.

According to Agence France-Presse, Epstein used his wealth and social resources during his lifetime to build a vast network of contacts, reaching political and business elites. These relationships have continued to attract public attention and conspiracy theories over the years.

Gates will give a transcribed interview to the House Oversight Committee to explain his relationship with Epstein. Epstein was detained in 2019 on suspicion of engaging in underage sex trafficking and died in a New York jail while awaiting trial.

Besides Gates, several other prominent figures, including former U.S. President Bill and Hillary Clinton and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, have also been questioned by the committee on this matter.

A spokesperson for Gates told the media that Gates is happy to cooperate with the committee's investigation and emphasized that he "never witnessed or participated in any of Epstein's illegal activities."

Among the investigation documents related to Epstein is a 2013 email draft, which seems to suggest Epstein had assisted Gates in handling an extramarital affair, including helping him seek antibiotic treatment after contracting a sexually transmitted disease.

Gates has called this email "fake" and denied the related allegations. In an interview with an Australian television station in February of this year, he said he had "stupidly" spent time with Epstein and stressed that their relationship was unrelated to the other's criminal acts.

He said, "I regret having associated with him, and I apologize for it... I truly only attended dinner parties. I never went to his island, and I never met any women."

Gates also added that the mere appearance of his name in documents related to Epstein does not serve as evidence of a crime.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Gates confessed to his foundation's employees that he did have affairs with two Russian women but denied any contact with Epstein's victims. He stated that his association with Epstein began in 2011, three years after Epstein had admitted to soliciting prostitution from a minor.

The report also notes that Gates allegedly admitted that his then-wife, Melinda French Gates, had expressed doubts about his relationship with Epstein, yet he continued the association for at least another year.

Melinda divorced Gates in 2021 and has stated that the remaining questions about this relationship should be answered by her ex-husband and the relevant parties.

Democratic congress members have stated that they will question Gates on the extent of his knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities and the full picture of their relationship.

U.S. media reports that Gates has hired former Justice Department lawyer John Moran as legal counsel and is receiving assistance from former senior House Oversight Committee investigator Jake Greenberg to prepare for the questioning. Experts believe this move may be controversial in terms of public perception but does not necessarily violate relevant regulations.