Bill Gates testifies that Epstein tried to blackmail him over affairs
The billionaire Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist denied having any knowledge of Epstein's criminal conduct when the pair had a brief professional relationship.
WASHINGTON — Bill Gates testified before members of Congress on June 10 that Jeffrey Epstein tried, but failed, to keep Gates in his orbit by blackmailing the Microsoft cofounder with information about extramarital affairs, according to a transcript of his planned opening remarks.
Gates, 70, arrived on Capitol Hill before 9 a.m. to speak with members of the House Oversight Committee in a closed-door meeting, becoming the latest prominent figure mentioned in the Department of Justice's files on the well-connected financier and convicted sex offender to do so.
He addressed reporters, sharing a brief statement before heading into the closed-door, transcribed interview.
"I'm glad to be here voluntarily to testify to help with the committee's work," he said, adding, "I hope my testimony is helpful to the important work of the committee to find justice for the victims."
Photos and mentions of Gates appeared several times in the investigative files on Epstein, who died in 2019. He previously acknowledged having several dinners with Epstein, saying that he believed at the time Epstein was helping to fundraise for global health causes.
As Gates' testimony was ongoing, Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tennessee, told reporters outside the hearing room that he wasn't sure Congress would learn much from what the multi-billionaire says, but described his demeanor as "pretty downtrodden."
"He did look pretty worn down and stressed. But if I were his attorneys that's exactly how I'd coach him to be in front of this crew," Burchett said.
Comer says more interviews on Epstein are coming
Outside the hearing room, Rep. James Comer, the committee chair, told reporters he is aiming to ask Gates about his involvement with Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving time in federal prison for sex trafficking in connection with Epstein.
"Hopefully, this interview today will be productive and help us learn more and help us in our investigation as we move forward," said Comer, a Republican from Kentucky.
Comer also said he expected the committee would call on more people with close ties to Epstein – such as his former lawyer Alan Dershowitz – for interviews.
"We will have questions for him," Comer said. "We're going to give him an opportunity to come in and answer several questions."
Gates says Epstein tried to blackmail him
Gates read from an opening statement, obtained by USA TODAY, saying he stopped communicating with Epstein in 2014 after concluding Epstein wasn't going to donate money to support Gates' work on global health issues.
Epstein then tried to use "sensitive information" about Gates' personal life, including that he was unfaithful during his marriage to Melinda French Gates, to pressure Gates into re-engaging with him, Gates' statement said.
"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 told the committee.
Gates says he never visited Epstein's island
Gates said at the outset of his testimony that he never went to Epstein's island, his ranch or his Florida home, and never witnessed Epstein engaging in "ongoing criminal conduct."
Epstein and Gates met in 2011, according to Gates' prewritten remarks to the committee. That was about three years after Epstein was convicted of Florida state prostitution offenses, including a crime involving minors. However, Epstein wasn't arrested on federal sex trafficking charges until 2019. He died later that year in a Manhattan jail before his trial, and his death was ruled a suicide.
In his statement, Gates denied committing any wrongdoing, saying, "I have never victimized anyone."
(This story has been updated with additional information.)