Bill Gates to testify before US Congress in Epstein investigation

Bill Gates will testify before Congress in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, according to media reports.

Gates had a close, personal relationship with the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, which led to backlash from Microsoft executives and the American public, especially since his relationship with Epstein began after Epstein was convicted of sex crimes.

A spokesperson for Gates said in a statement that the Microsoft co-founder called his relationship with Epstein "a huge mistake."

"Gates welcomes the opportunity to appear before the (congressional) 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," said his spokesman.

There are numerous photographs of Gates with Epstein from events they attended together, but Gates has always maintained that his relationship and repeated meetings with Epstein were philanthropy-related discussions and that it was a mistake for him to meet Epstein.

"Every minute I spent with him, I regret," Gates told Australia's 9News earlier this year.

Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to two charges of soliciting prostitution, with one of the charges involving a minor. He was arrested on federal sex-trafficking charges in 2019 and committed suicide while in jail awaiting his federal trial.

Gates is scheduled to testify before a congressional committee June 10.

The millions of documents released by the US Justice Department in recent months regarding the Epstein files have included numerous email exchanges between Gates and Epstein, as well as photos of the two together.

Gates, in February, apologized to the staff of Microsoft about his relationship with Epstein and acknowledged he had two extramarital affairs with women Epstein set up for him. Gates maintained that he did not do or witness anything "illicit" and said his affairs did not involve Epstein's victims.