June 10 (UPI) — Billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates will testify before the House Oversight Committee Wednesday about his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“I hope my testimony is helpful to the important work of the committee to find justice for the victims,” Gates said in a brief statement after he arrived in Washington, D.C.
His testimony comes a day after Epstein’s former executive assistant Lesley Groff testified, saying she knew nothing about Epstein’s crimes.
In a statement to The Guardian, a spokesperson for Gates said that he “welcomes the opportunity to appear before the committee” and said that “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.”
Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., told reporters earlier this week, “we want to know what did Mr. Gates know, who else was around that orbit, and why Mr. Gates continued to have a relationship with Mr. Epstein.”
Committee Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., told reporters Tuesday that “anything’s on the table.”
“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.”
Gates became friends with Epstein in 2011, three years after he was convicted in Florida for soliciting an underage girl for prostitution. Epstein served 13 months in jail for that charge and became a registered sex offender.
Epstein died by suicide in jail in 2019.
Gates has publicly expressed regret for his friendship with Epstein. He has said he met with Epstein several times to discuss philanthropy but said it was “foolish” of him.
“Yes, I think I was quite stupid,” Gates said. “I thought it would help me with global health philanthropy; in fact, it failed to do that, and it was just a huge mistake.”
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