WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was set to face questioning Wednesday from US lawmakers over his relationship with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, whose network of wealthy and powerful associates has fueled years of scrutiny and conspiracy theories.

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.