By Solange Reyner | Thursday, 25 June 2026 05:18 PM EDT
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., stated Thursday that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates answered lawmakers’ questions in a closed-door interview as part of the committee’s Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Comer added that investigators remain reviewing Gates’ testimony.
Comer said committee investigators are speaking with Epstein victims to determine whether Gates’ account aligns with other evidence gathered during the inquiry.
“I think he answered every question that we asked,” Comer said. “We’re going back. We’re speaking with Epstein survivors to see if anyone disputes what he said.”
Comer noted that Gates identified women with whom he reportedly had affairs but asserted they were not connected to Epstein or among his victims.
“If you read the transcript, he named the names of the women that he reportedly had affairs with,” Comer said. “They were not part of Epstein’s victims. They weren’t in Epstein’s circle.”
Comer also addressed an email that has circulated publicly referencing Gates and a possible sexually transmitted disease, stating that Gates told investigators the message originated from Epstein himself.
“The email that talked about Bill Gates and a possible sexually transmitted disease was sent by Epstein to Epstein,” Comer said, adding it “is very odd.”
According to Comer, Gates told lawmakers he believed Epstein had attempted to blackmail him — an assertion Comer noted has been widely reported.
Comer said Gates’s explanation for his relationship with Epstein mirrors accounts previously given by former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding their own interactions with the disgraced financier.
“He said the same thing the Clintons said — that they were introduced to Epstein thinking he would be someone who donated to their charity,” Comer said.
He added that Gates told investigators his interactions with Epstein were tied to the billionaire’s philanthropic work in Africa, while the Clintons stated they believed Epstein was interested in supporting the Clinton Foundation.
Comer noted the committee has not concluded its review and will continue comparing witness testimony with other evidence gathered in the investigation.
“If evidence emerges that they lied, then we’ll hold them accountable,” Comer said.
The House Oversight Committee has been investigating the federal government’s handling of Epstein and Maxwell, examining records and interviewing witnesses as lawmakers seek more information about the pair’s activities and contacts.
