Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is set to testify before the US Congress over his ties with the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The House Oversight Committee has been carrying out a probe into the late financier, with several prominent figures – including Bill and Hillary Clinton – among those who had given evidence so far.

A spokesperson for Gates, said he “welcomes the opportunity” to face questions. “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.”

The hearing is scheduled for 10 June.

There have been growing calls for high-profile individuals including President Trump named in the Epstein files to testify about their ties to him and any knowledge of his crimes. Being named in the files does not imply wrongdoing.

The millions of documents released by the US justice department in recent months have included email exchanges between Epstein and Gates, photos of whom have also featured.

Gates maintains that his relationship and repeated meetings with Epstein were confined to philanthropy-related discussions and that it was a mistake for him to meet Epstein.

Epstein’s, ties to some of the world’s most high-profile figures have come under heightened scrutiny after Trump signed legislation passed by Congress last November requiring the justice department to release documents relating to its investigations into Epstein.