Bill Gates stated in testimony before the U.S. Congress that Jeffrey Epstein attempted to reconnect with him by using personal information he had obtained about Gates, including allegations related to extramarital affairs.
The Microsoft founder told the U.S. House Oversight Committee that Epstein had tried to blackmail him.
According to Gates’ opening statement, which was made public, he said that he never witnessed Epstein engage in any criminal activity and that he never visited Epstein’s island, ranch, or residence in Florida. Gates also stated that he never harmed any victims.
Gates explained that he first met Epstein in 2011 and that they held meetings related to various philanthropic initiatives. He said their relationship ended in 2014, but later realized that Epstein had gained access to certain details about his personal life.
Referring to his extramarital affairs during his testimony, Gates claimed that Epstein attempted to use this information to reestablish contact with him. Gates said:
“Epstein tried to use my infidelities, along with some fabricated claims, to pressure me into reconnecting with him. He failed.”
The Epstein Files
Jeffrey Epstein was accused of operating a sex trafficking and abuse network involving numerous underage girls. He was found dead in his prison cell in New York in 2019 while awaiting trial.
Court documents released to the public later mentioned the names of many well-known individuals. However, being named in those documents does not mean that the individuals committed any crimes.
Investigations conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Justice concluded that there was no evidence that Epstein maintained a secret “client list” of famous individuals. Authorities also determined that Epstein’s death was a suicide rather than a homicide.