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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New developments linked to Jeffrey Epstein have brought renewed attention to his former associate Ghislaine Maxwell and billionaire Bill Gates. Maxwell is seeking to overturn her conviction, while Gates testified before Congress about his past interactions with the late financier.
A New Mexico legislative commission investigating the handling of cases linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has subpoenaed multiple U.S. Attorney’s offices. The subpoena is a part of an inquiry into whether prosecutors failed to pursue charges despite evidence of alleged abuse.
First Lady Melania Trump has publicly denied any connection to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, dismissing speculation about their relationship and urging an end to what she described as “lies”.
The family of the late Virginia Giuffre have urged King Charles III to meet survivors of sexual abuse during his upcoming state visit to the United States.
A Russian couple climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and unfurled a banner urging world peace before, in an apparent elaborate marriage proposal that ended with their arrests.
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both sides tested the interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran mediated by Qatar in Doha have concluded, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi has said.
Mexico ended their 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout win, while Erling Haaland sent Norway through and Kylian Mbappé fired France into the last 16.
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A breakaway Catholic group dedicated to preserving the traditional Latin Mass has ordained four new bishops in Switzerland, despite a direct appeal from Pope Leo XIV to halt the ceremony.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 2nd of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A Russian couple climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and unfurled a banner urging world peace before, in an apparent elaborate marriage proposal that ended with their arrests.
A California man has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its Chief Executive, Sam Altman, alleging that conversations with the company's ChatGPT chatbot worsened his bipolar disorder and contributed to a suicide attempt.
The United States has designated the Ecuadorian criminal group Chone Killers as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), imposing sanctions on a gang Washington says is responsible for attacks on civilians, police officers and public officials.
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