Bill Gates has told members of Congress that he “did not fully understand the extent” of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes during the period in which he associated with the late convicted sex offender while seeking support for his philanthropic work.
In testimony given on Wednesday, the Microsoft co-founder said he had never witnessed any criminal behaviour by Epstein. He also said the financier later attempted to blackmail him over extramarital affairs.
“These affairs had nothing to do with my interactions with Epstein, but they were painful for my family,” Bill Gates said, according to a copy of his opening statement.
“Epstein was working to use information about my infidelities in addition to many lies that he layered on top to pressure me to re-engage with him.” he added.
The appearance forms part of an ongoing congressional investigation into the U.S. Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein case and related prosecutions. The inquiry is examining the circumstances surrounding Epstein’s activities, as well as broader concerns about failures to prevent sex trafficking.
Bill Gates gave evidence in private to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The panel, led by Republican chairman James Comer, is reviewing potential federal mismanagement in the cases involving Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
James Comer had previously requested Bill Gates’s testimony in a letter sent in March, asking him to take part in an in-person, transcribed interview.
Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to a Florida state felony prostitution charge and served 13 months in prison.
He was later charged by federal prosecutors in 2019 with sex trafficking of minors. Jeffrey Epstein pleaded not guilty to those charges before dying in custody later that year in what authorities ruled was a suicide.
Documents released by the U.S. Justice Department earlier this year indicated that Bill Gates met Jeffrey Epstein on multiple occasions after his 2008 conviction, with discussions reportedly centred on expanding philanthropic initiatives. The records also included photographs of Bill Gates with unidentified women whose faces were redacted.
Bill Gates has previously acknowledged that meeting Jeffrey Epstein was a mistake, maintaining that their interactions were limited to discussions related to charitable work.
A spokesperson for the Gates Foundation said Bill Gates “took responsibility for his actions” during a staff town hall in February. The foundation has also been drawn into scrutiny over the relationship and said in April that it had launched an external review into its past engagement with Jeffrey Epstein.
Additional emails released in January showed correspondence between Jeffrey Epstein and members of the Gates Foundation’s staff.
The congressional investigation extends beyond individual relationships and includes scrutiny of plea deals, prosecutorial decisions, Jeffrey Epstein’s death, ethical concerns, and delays in releasing official documents. Lawmakers are also examining broader systemic failures in addressing sex trafficking.
The release of millions of internal Justice Department documents has highlighted Jeffrey Epstein’s connections with prominent figures across politics, business, finance and academia, including U.S. President Donald Trump, who had social ties with Epstein during the 1990s and 2000s.
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was dismissed by Donald Trump in April, has faced criticism over her handling of aspects of the case. Some critics accuse her of attempting to shield the president from scrutiny.
Donald Trump had initially opposed the release of the files before Congress overwhelmingly passed legislation requiring their disclosure.
Lawmakers have indicated that testimony from high-profile figures such as Bill Gates is central to understanding how Jeffrey Epstein maintained relationships with influential individuals despite previous convictions.
Investigators are seeking to determine whether these connections contributed to institutional failures or delayed scrutiny of his activities.
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