Bill Gates to Testify Before Congress on Controversy Surrounding Association with Epstein

According to AFP, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is among the prominent figures appearing in documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice, which reveal a close friendship, illicit financial exchanges, and private photographs between him and Epstein. Sources indicate Gates will undergo a 'verbatim record interview,' meaning his testimony will be conducted behind closed doors, similar to the formats previously used by former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State and Senator Hillary Clinton. Gates' spokesperson stated in an email to AFP that Gates 'welcomes the opportunity to testify before the committee.' The spokesperson added: 'While he never witnessed or participated in any of Epstein's illegal acts, he looks forward to answering all the committee's questions in support of this important work.' Gates has admitted that his association with Epstein was a 'major mistake.' In February of this year, he stated internally at his philanthropic foundation that he had extramarital affairs with two Russian women but denied involvement in the notorious financier's criminal activities. In a draft email from the Department of Justice documents, Epstein alleged that Gates had an affair and wrote that their relationship included 'helping Bill obtain drugs to deal with the consequences of having sex with Russian women, and helping arrange his illicit rendezvous with married women.' The 70-year-old Gates admitted to two extramarital affairs at a town hall meeting. He said: 'I did have extramarital affairs, one with a Russian bridge player I met at a bridge event, and another with a Russian nuclear physicist I met through business dealings.' However, Gates denied any involvement with Epstein's victims. Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking of minors. At the town hall meeting, Gates stated: 'I did not do anything illegal, nor did I see any illegal activity.' The tech mogul stated that his relationship with Epstein began in 2011, three years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for sex trafficking. Gates mentioned he was aware Epstein had been restricted from travel for '18 months' but did not investigate his background further. He stated that his ex-wife Melinda had expressed concerns about Epstein as early as 2013, yet he continued to interact with him for at least another year.