Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, testified before the U.S. House oversight committee on June 10 that the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein attempted to blackmail him over his extramarital affairs. The transcript of the closed-door testimony, released by the committee on Tuesday, reveals Gates describing "veiled" threats and Epstein's consideration of exploiting knowledge of Gates's affairs to keep him in his orbit.
Testimony Details and Context
According to the transcript, Gates stated, "I was not blackmailed, but you know, as you look at these emails, you know, it looks like Mr Epstein's brainstorming was going in that direction." He clarified that Epstein never directly sent him a blackmail message, but draft emails suggested Epstein was "rehearsing how either he or he, coaching someone else, might choose to blackmail me." Gates emphasized that none of those draft messages were ever sent to him.
Gates, 70, had released his opening remarks on the day of the testimony, asserting he was unaware of Epstein's criminal behavior and had "never victimized anyone." He also told the Wall Street Journal in late February that his ties to Epstein were a major mistake, admitting to extramarital affairs with two Russian women but denying involvement in Epstein's activities.
Relationship with Epstein
Gates acknowledged his relationship with Epstein began in 2011, three years after Epstein pleaded guilty to prostitution charges involving minors. Gates noted he knew of Epstein's legal troubles but had been told Epstein could raise billions for global health, a cause Gates was deeply involved in. "I knew that it [the Epstein conviction] was of a sexual nature, but, no, I don't think I knew – dug into the specifics, although I probably should have," Gates said.
Implications and Broader Context
The mention of a person's name in the Epstein dossier does not imply wrongdoing, but the documents reveal links between the sex offender and public figures who often downplayed or denied such ties. The testimony adds to scrutiny of high-profile individuals associated with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex crimes.
