Bill Gates testifies to the US Congress in investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein case

Bill Gates watches a tennis match in Australia.
Reuters
Billionaire Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, is expected to give testimony this Wednesday (10) to a committee of the United States House of Representatives that is investigating the role of federal authorities in the case involving Jeffrey Epstein, a financier accused of sex trafficking of minors.
According to Reuters, Gates will participate in a private session of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The group is investigating possible failures in the conduct of investigations and processes related to Epstein and his former associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
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The president of the commission, Republican congressman James Comer, had requested in March that Gates appear for an officially registered face-to-face interview.
According to The New York Times, Gates hired Jake Greenberg, the committee's former main investigator, to help him prepare for the testimony. A spokesperson for the commission told Reuters that Greenberg has no longer worked at the agency since his departure in December.
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Relationship with Epstein
Bill Gates appears alongside young man whose face was hidden in Jeffrey Epstein files
House Oversight Committee Democrats/ Handout via Reuters
Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to a charge related to the sexual exploitation of minors in Florida and served time 13 months in prison.
Years later, in 2019, he was accused by federal prosecutors of sex trafficking of minors. He denied the accusations and died in prison before trial, in a death ruled a suicide by authorities.
Documents released this year by the US Department of Justice show that Gates and Epstein met several times after their 2008 conviction.
According to the records, the meetings involved discussions about possible philanthropic initiatives and social projects.
The disclosures also included photographs of Gates alongside unidentified women. The businessman has previously stated that his relationship with Epstein was limited to conversations about philanthropy and acknowledged that it was a mistake to have maintained contact with him.
In February, Gates "took responsibility for his actions" during a meeting with Gates Foundation officials, according to a spokesperson for the organization interviewed by Reuters.
Gates Foundation under scrutiny
The relationship between Gates and Epstein also led the Gates Foundation to launch an external investigation into the businessman's contacts with the financier, the institution reported in April.
In addition, emails released by the Department of Justice showed exchanges of messages between Epstein and employees of the foundation.
What the committee investigates
The House committee analyzes several aspects of the case, including the role of authorities in investigations and legal proceedings, agreements reached with defendants, Epstein's death in prison, possible failures in the fight against sex trafficking, ethical issues and delays in the release of official documents.
The release of millions of internal documents by the Department of Justice revealed Epstein's connections with influential figures in the politics, business, finance and academia.
Among the names mentioned in the documents is the President of the United States, Donald Trump, who maintained a social relationship with Epstein during the 1990s and 2000s.
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi, who left office in April, was also the target of criticism for her handling of issues related to the case. Trump resisted releasing the files for years, but Congress later passed a law mandating the release of the documents.

Source: G1