A closed-door testimony on Capitol Hill

Bill Gates appeared before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Wednesday for a closed-door interview lasting more than five hours. The Microsoft co-founder is among the highest-profile figures to testify in the committee's wide-ranging investigation into the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, including prosecutorial decisions, plea deals, the circumstances of Epstein's death, and delays in releasing government documents. Gates told reporters he was "glad to be here voluntarily to testify" and hoped his statement would help the committee's work to achieve "justice for the victims."

The blackmail allegation

In his opening statement, published on his GatesNotes site, the billionaire said Epstein tried to weaponize details of his personal life.

“Epstein tried to use information about my infidelities — in addition to many lies he layered on top of them — to pressure me to work with him again.”

Gates said the affairs had nothing to do with his contacts with Epstein but were painful for his family. He stated the blackmail attempt was unsuccessful.

Timeline of the relationship

Gates said he first met Epstein in 2011, three years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution in Florida. Between 2011 and 2012, five meetings took place, with discussions in 2013 and 2014 focusing on potential philanthropic funding mechanisms for the Gates Foundation's global health work. Gates said no projects materialized and he permanently cut contact in 2014 after concluding Epstein's promises to bring in donors were unfounded.

“I should never have met with Epstein. Based on what I know now, I understand that even if he had brought the donors he promised, the association with him would not have been justified.”

Gates's defense and denials

Gates insisted he never witnessed any criminal activity by Epstein and had no indication of ongoing crimes.

“I never went to his island, his ranch or his Florida home. I have never victimised anyone.”

He acknowledged that Epstein sought to build an image of legitimacy by using connections to reputable and influential people to deflect scrutiny. The committee's top Democrat, Representative Robert Garcia, was skeptical, saying Gates knew Epstein was convicted of a horrific crime and continued contact with him, adding that Gates must "atone" for that.

The Epstein documents

Recently released Justice Department documents include calendar entries and correspondence between Gates and Epstein, as well as photos of Gates with women whose faces were redacted. Committee chair James Comer said the panel wanted to question Gates about notes Epstein emailed himself in 2013 describing how he gave Gates medication "to treat the consequences of sex with Russian girls" and provided antibiotics for a sexually transmitted disease. Comer stressed that no allegations of wrongdoing have been made against Gates. Epstein died in custody in 2019, officially ruled a suicide, while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges involving minors.