Bill Gates disclosed to Congress that Jeffrey Epstein attempted to blackmail him by leveraging knowledge of his extramarital affairs, according to a transcript of closed-door testimony released this week.
The Microsoft founder appeared before the House oversight committee on June 10 to address his relationship with Epstein, the financier who died in prison in 2019 awaiting trial on sex crime charges. During questioning, Gates described what he characterized as "veiled" threats, noting that Epstein had strategized about exploiting personal information to keep Gates entangled in his circle even as Gates was pulling away.
"I was not blackmailed, but as you look at these emails, it looks like Mr Epstein's brainstorming was going in that direction," Gates testified, referencing documents from the Epstein case released by the Department of Justice in January.
Gates clarified under further questioning that while Epstein never sent him what he would classify as an actual blackmail message, the evidence suggested Epstein was "rehearsing how either he or he, coaching someone else, might choose to blackmail me, but none of those messages were ever sent to me."
In his prepared opening statement that day, the 70-year-old Gates stated he had been unaware of Epstein's criminal conduct and had "never victimized anyone." He later told the Wall Street Journal in late February that his association with Epstein was a serious mistake. He also admitted to affairs with two Russian women but denied any participation in Epstein's illicit operations.
Gates said his connection to Epstein began in 2011, more than three years after Epstein had pleaded guilty to prostitution charges involving minors. Gates acknowledged knowing about Epstein's legal troubles but said he had been assured that Epstein possessed the ability to mobilize billions of dollars for global health initiatives, a cause central to Gates' philanthropic work.
"I knew that it was of a sexual nature, but, no, I don't think I knew dug into the specifics, although I probably should have," Gates stated.
The release of Epstein documents has prompted scrutiny of his connections across business, politics, and philanthropy. Names appearing in the dossier have generated public attention, though their mere mention does not establish wrongdoing. The materials have, however, exposed links between Epstein and his associates and prominent figures who had previously minimized or denied their relationships with him.
Author James Rodriguez: "Gates' testimony reveals how predators weaponize personal leverage, and his admission he didn't dig deeper into Epstein's crimes raises uncomfortable questions about due diligence among the ultra-wealthy."
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