Bill Gates told U.S. lawmakers he deeply regrets his association with Jeffrey Epstein, denied any wrongdoing, and said the disgraced financier attempted to pressure him using information about his personal life.
One of the world’s most famous billionaires has finally faced questions from Congress about his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
As CNN reports, Bill Gates appeared behind closed doors before the U.S. House Oversight Committee on Wednesday as lawmakers continued their investigation into Epstein’s network and the handling of his case. The Microsoft co-founder acknowledged that meeting Epstein was a serious mistake but firmly denied any involvement in criminal conduct.
According to reports from the hearing, Gates told lawmakers he never witnessed any illegal activity and had no understanding of the full extent of Epstein’s crimes when the two met between 2011 and 2014. He described the relationship as limited and said it ended years ago after promised philanthropic opportunities failed to materialize.
The hearing also revealed a more personal side of the story. Gates testified that Epstein attempted to use knowledge of his extramarital affairs to pressure him into re-engaging with him. Gates insisted those personal matters had nothing to do with his interactions with Epstein and said the attempts were unsuccessful.
In his testimony, Gates expressed regret over the association, calling it a poor judgment call and stressing that he supports efforts to uncover the truth and secure justice for Epstein’s victims. He also declared, “I have never victimized anyone,” while cooperating with investigators.
The testimony marks one of the highest-profile appearances yet in Congress’ ongoing Epstein investigation.
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