Bill Gates told a congressional committee that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein allegedly attempted to use information about Gates's extramarital affairs to pressure him into resuming contact after their relationship had ended. Gates made the statement during testimony before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is continuing its review of the handling of the Epstein case and the network of influential individuals who interacted with the disgraced financier.
According to remarks cited from his testimony, Gates said he did not fully appreciate the extent of Epstein's criminal conduct when they initially met and interacted on matters related to philanthropy. He stated that the affairs in question had no connection to his dealings with Epstein but acknowledged that the issue caused significant pain for his family. Gates further alleged that Epstein sought to exploit information about those affairs, along with what he described as numerous false claims, in an effort to pressure him into re-establishing contact.
During the closed-door hearing, Gates repeatedly denied having any personal friendship or close relationship with Epstein. He maintained that their interactions were limited to discussions involving charitable projects, fundraising opportunities, and global health initiatives. Gates stressed that he never visited Epstein's private island, ranch, or residence in Florida and stated that he had never harmed anyone.
According to Gates, while Epstein may have attempted to cultivate a personal relationship with him, he was never interested in such a connection and never encouraged or reciprocated those efforts. He explained that the relationship began in 2011, several years after Epstein had already served a jail sentence in Florida related to soliciting prostitution.
Gates told lawmakers that the discussions largely revolved around possible philanthropic partnerships and support for charitable projects connected to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He emphasized that Epstein never held any official position within the foundation and was never offered compensation or a formal role in its activities.
According to his testimony, Gates ultimately ended all contact with Epstein in 2014 after concluding that the financier would not deliver on promises regarding fundraising or philanthropic support. Gates stated that he informed Epstein that there would be no further collaboration and subsequently ceased all meetings and communication with him.
He also told committee members that he never witnessed Epstein engaging in criminal conduct during their interactions and that he had no direct knowledge of any ongoing illegal activities at the time they were in contact. Nevertheless, Gates acknowledged in previous public comments that meeting Epstein had been a mistake and that he should have conducted more thorough scrutiny of Epstein's background.
The hearing formed part of a broader congressional examination of how federal authorities handled investigations involving Epstein and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. Lawmakers are reviewing a wide range of issues, including plea agreements, prosecution decisions, investigative procedures, and the release of government records connected to the case.
Gates became one of several prominent figures questioned by lawmakers seeking to understand the nature of Epstein's relationships with influential individuals across business, politics, academia, and finance. Committee members asked detailed questions about what Gates knew regarding Epstein's past criminal conviction and why contact continued after that conviction was publicly known.
During his testimony, Gates also expressed sympathy for Epstein's victims and stated that he hoped survivors would ultimately receive the justice they deserve. His comments came as Congress continues reviewing millions of pages of documents related to the Epstein investigation and the decisions made by federal authorities over the years.
Following the hearing, lawmakers from both political parties offered their interpretations of Gates's testimony. Representative Robert Garcia said that Gates acknowledged being aware of Epstein's prior conviction during the period in which they interacted.
Republican Representative Tim Burchett described Epstein as a "friend collector," suggesting that the financier actively sought relationships with well-known and influential people to enhance his own status and credibility. Burchett argued that Epstein appeared to value being associated with prominent figures and often used those connections to increase his influence.
Democratic Representative Emily Randall said that portions of the testimony indicated how some individuals who interacted with Epstein may have overlooked warning signs because they focused only on the aspects of him that aligned with their own interests or expectations.
The committee's investigation remains active, with lawmakers continuing to review witness testimony, government records, and decisions made by federal agencies throughout the Epstein case. As additional witnesses are questioned and more documents are examined, congressional investigators are seeking a clearer understanding of Epstein's network, the extent of his influence, and how various institutions responded to allegations and evidence against him over the years.
