Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates delivered notable testimony before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, revealing that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein allegedly attempted to use information about Gates’ personal life, including extramarital affairs, as leverage to maintain influence and continue their relationship.
The closed-door interview took place as part of an ongoing congressional investigation into Epstein’s network of powerful contacts and associates. While Gates has never been accused of criminal wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, lawmakers have continued to examine why prominent individuals maintained ties to the disgraced financier after his 2008 conviction for sex-related crimes.
During his testimony, Gates described his interactions with Epstein as one of the biggest mistakes of his professional and personal life. He acknowledged that he continued meeting with Epstein years after the financier’s conviction because of discussions centered on philanthropy, global health initiatives, and fundraising opportunities. Looking back, Gates said those meetings represented a serious lapse in judgment.
In prepared remarks, Gates stated that he eventually learned Epstein had gathered information about his personal life and was attempting to use it to exert pressure.
“As the public can now see, based on what has been released in the files, Epstein was working to use information about my infidelities,” Gates told lawmakers.
The billionaire admitted that he had been unfaithful during his marriage to Melinda French Gates and said Epstein became aware of those affairs. According to Gates, the information was later used as part of an effort to regain influence after their relationship deteriorated.
“These affairs had nothing to do with my interactions with Epstein,” Gates said, emphasizing that the situation caused significant pain for his family.
Gates further testified that Epstein allegedly combined accurate information with false claims in an attempt to manipulate him. Despite those efforts, Gates said he refused to continue any relationship with Epstein and ultimately severed ties.
“He was unsuccessful in this effort, but it shows some of the ways he tried to leverage his interactions with me to further his agenda,” Gates said.
The testimony offered a rare glimpse into what Gates now believes was Epstein’s broader strategy. According to Gates, Epstein actively sought relationships with influential figures in business, politics, academia, and philanthropy to cultivate an image of legitimacy and shield himself from public scrutiny.
“I see now that he sought to build an image of legitimacy around himself, using connections to reputable and powerful people to deflect scrutiny and attempt to rehabilitate his reputation,” Gates told the committee.
Gates also reiterated that he never visited Epstein’s private island, never witnessed criminal activity, and never participated in illegal conduct. He noted that none of the philanthropic projects or fundraising opportunities Epstein discussed ever materialized.
The testimony comes amid renewed attention surrounding Epstein’s extensive network following the release of thousands of documents tied to federal investigations and congressional inquiries. Those records have intensified public interest in how Epstein maintained access to some of the world’s most powerful individuals despite his criminal history.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has made the Epstein investigation a major focus of the committee’s work, calling numerous high-profile witnesses to testify. Gates is among the most prominent figures to appear before lawmakers thus far.
For Gates, the message delivered to Congress was straightforward. Whatever philanthropic goals he believed were possible through his meetings with Epstein, he now views the association as a costly mistake that should never have happened.
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