Bill Gates faces House committee questions on his controversial Epstein connection

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is due to appear before a congressional committee on Wednesday to face questions about his widely scrutinised friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

A high-profile appearance

Gates, one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, is among the most prominent figures to submit to questioning by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which has spent months examining Epstein's extensive network of high-profile associates. His appearance follows the committee's questioning, a day earlier, of Lesley Groff, Epstein's former long-serving executive assistant.

Representative James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the committee, told reporters on Tuesday that "anything's on the table" when it comes to the questions Gates will face. "He seems like he's — according to his attorneys — I wouldn't say eager to testify, but he's willing to testify, and he hasn't fought it. And I appreciate that," Comer said.

How the friendship began

According to reporting by The Wall Street Journal, Gates and Epstein became acquainted in 2011 — three years after Epstein had pleaded guilty in a Florida state court to soliciting an underage girl for prostitution, for which he served 13 months in gaol. Epstein later died by suicide in August 2019, weeks after his arrest on federal child sex trafficking charges.

The connection between Gates and Epstein attracted renewed scrutiny in late 2025, following the release of documents relating to Epstein and his associates by the Department of Justice and Congress. Gates has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.

Gates prepares his defence

The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Gates had been preparing for his testimony with assistance from Jake Greenberg, who served as the oversight committee's chief investigations counsel until December.

A spokesperson for Gates stated in March: "Gates welcomes the opportunity to appear before the Committee. While he never witnessed or participated in any of Epstein's illegal conduct, he is looking forward to answering all the committee's questions to support their important work."

A public apology and private admission

In February, Gates issued an apology to staff at a Gates Foundation town hall for his association with Epstein. He also acknowledged during that session that he had conducted affairs with two Russian women — affairs of which Epstein had reportedly become aware, according to The Wall Street Journal.

"I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit," Gates said at the event, as reported by the Journal. He also reportedly described the association as a serious error in judgement, saying "it was a huge mistake to spend time with Epstein" and to have brought foundation executives into meetings with him. "I apologize to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made," Gates reportedly said.

The Gates Foundation has since commissioned an independent external review of its historical ties to Epstein, with the foundation's board and management expected to receive an update on the findings over the summer.

Buffett keeps his distance

Warren Buffett, the long-standing chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and a close friend of Gates for many years, confirmed to CNBC's Becky Quick in late March that he had not been in contact with the Microsoft co-founder since the Epstein files came to light.

"I don't want to be in a position where I know things ... to be called as a witness," Buffett said. "I think until it gets cleared up, it doesn't make sense to do a lot of talking."

Buffett characterised Epstein as a manipulative figure who deliberately exploited the vulnerabilities of others. "Men are going to like sex ... and some of them are going to like not paying taxes, and he figured out their weaknesses," he said. Buffett has donated more than 43 billion dollars to the Gates Foundation since 2006.