Gates, one of the world's richest men and a leading philanthropist, was due to appear before the House Oversight Committee for a transcribed interview about the disgraced financier, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges involving underage girls.
The panel asked Gates to appear after documents released by the Justice Department raised new questions about his contacts with Epstein.
Several other high-profile figures have also appeared before the committee, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
A spokesperson for Gates told AFP in a statement that the billionaire welcomed the chance to appear before the committee and emphasized he had "never witnessed or participated in Epstein's illegal conduct."
Bill Gates speak at an event in New York, September 2025. Photo by Reuters
