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Gates tells Congress Epstein may have plotted to blackmail him

Sarah Mitchell 0 comments 7 min read
Gates tells Congress Epstein may have plotted to blackmail him

Bill Gates revealed to House lawmakers this month that he suspected Jeffrey Epstein considered using his extramarital affairs as leverage against him, according to a transcript released Tuesday.

"He never blackmailed me, but looking at these emails, it raises a serious probability that he contemplated blackmailing me," Gates told the House Oversight Committee on June 10 during its investigation into the convicted sex offender.

Gates acknowledged he knew Epstein had a criminal conviction of a sexual nature when they first met in 2011. He said he "probably should have" investigated the details of that conviction more thoroughly. Epstein had pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges in Florida that required him to register as a sex offender.

The Microsoft co-founder maintained that Epstein never introduced him to young women and that he engaged in no illicit conduct with the financier. Gates also said their relationship involved several in-person meetings and email exchanges, though he has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

In February, Gates admitted to his foundation's staff that he had two affairs during his marriage and called his association with Epstein "a huge mistake." He apologized after emails between him and Epstein became public, stating at the time that he "did nothing illicit" and "said nothing illicit."

Following his testimony, Gates issued a statement saying he "appreciated the opportunity to meet with the House Oversight Committee today and to answer all of their questions." He added, "I support the release of all the files and hope my participation contributes to getting justice for the victims."

The committee also released a separate transcript from its June 9 interview with Lesley Groff, Epstein's longtime secretary. Groff, who worked for him for 18 years, told lawmakers she never witnessed anything illegal during her tenure.

Author Sarah Mitchell: "Gates' admission about suspecting blackmail shows even billionaires can find themselves in the web of a predator's schemes, but his cooperation with Congress and push for transparency marks a different path forward than silence."

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