Bill Gates Testifies That Jeffrey Epstein Attempted to Blackmail Him Over Extramarital Affairs

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has disclosed to members of the U.S. House Oversight Committee that the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein attempted to blackmail him regarding his past extramarital affairs.

In a transcript of his closed-door testimony from June 10, which was released on Tuesday, Gates detailed his interactions with Epstein. He explained that while he was distancing himself from the financier, he perceived that Epstein was attempting to use his knowledge of Gates’s personal life as leverage to remain within his orbit.

Gates clarified that while Epstein never directly sent him a formal blackmail threat, he believed the financier was “rehearsing” how he might extort him through draft emails and internal brainstorming. “It looks like Mr. Epstein’s brainstorming was going in that direction,” Gates told lawmakers, referring to documents previously released by the U.S. Department of Justice. He emphasized that no such messages were ever successfully sent to him.

The tech pioneer, 70, had previously stated in his opening testimony that he was unaware of the extent of Epstein’s criminal activities and maintained that he had “never victimized anyone.” In earlier public comments, Gates acknowledged that his association with Epstein which began in 2011, years after Epstein’s initial prostitution conviction was a significant error in judgment.

At the time, Gates noted that he believed Epstein could provide access to billions of dollars for global health initiatives. While he admitted he was aware Epstein had legal troubles of a sexual nature, he conceded that he did not investigate the specific details of the financier’s crimes at the time.

The testimony comes as part of a broader congressional inquiry into public figures who maintained ties to Epstein. The release of the testimony serves to clarify the nature of their relationship, as investigators continue to scrutinize how Epstein built and leveraged a network of high-profile associates.