Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates acknowledged Wednesday that Jeffrey Epstein attempted to use knowledge of his marital infidelity as leverage to maintain access to him, offering the revelation during a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee as part of Congress’ ongoing investigation into the disgraced financier’s network of associates.
Gates appeared voluntarily before the bipartisan panel, which has spent months examining Epstein’s relationships with influential figures in business, politics, and philanthropy. During his opening statement, Gates admitted that his association with Epstein was a mistake and said he regretted ever meeting him.
“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 investigators, referring to Epstein’s alleged attempt to use information about Gates’ affairs to reestablish contact after their relationship had cooled. “I should never have met with Epstein in the first place.”
The interview was conducted behind closed doors, though lawmakers indicated a transcript will eventually be released to the public.
According to Gates, he first met Epstein in 2011 after the financier claimed he could help raise billions of dollars for global health initiatives. Gates told lawmakers he was not fully aware of the details surrounding Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution and failed to conduct the level of scrutiny that, in hindsight, he believes was warranted.
“I accepted the introduction without applying the scrutiny I should have,” Gates reportedly said.
The relationship lasted several years but, according to Gates, remained limited in scope. He testified that by late 2014 he had largely cut off contact after Epstein failed to produce the philanthropic opportunities he had promised.
Gates also emphasized that he never witnessed Epstein engage in criminal conduct and denied participating in or observing any illicit activity.
“I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,” Gates previously stated in comments reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. He described his interactions with Epstein as a “huge mistake.”
Documents released during federal investigations have shown that Gates and Epstein communicated and met on multiple occasions between 2011 and 2014, including gatherings at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse. The records also suggest Epstein became aware of Gates’ extramarital relationships during that period.
According to materials cited by investigators, Epstein allegedly attempted to use that personal information to maintain influence with Gates after their relationship began deteriorating.
Lawmakers from both parties said Gates was generally cooperative during questioning.
House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Robert Garcia, D-Calif., told reporters afterward that Gates answered questions, though he occasionally pushed back on certain lines of inquiry.
“I think any witness on occasion is going to be a little combative,” Garcia said. “But he’s answering the questions.”
The committee’s investigation has focused heavily on understanding how Epstein cultivated relationships with prominent individuals after his criminal conviction and whether those relationships helped him maintain influence despite his status as a registered sex offender.
Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., has made Gates’ post-conviction interactions with Epstein a particular focus of the inquiry.
Lawmakers have repeatedly stressed that Gates has not been accused of wrongdoing. Nevertheless, they argue that understanding why influential figures continued associating with Epstein after his conviction remains an important part of the investigation.
“We’ve said we don’t care if you are a Republican or a Democrat or who you are,” Garcia told reporters ahead of the interview. “The fact that Mr. Gates still had a relationship with Mr. Epstein, even after knowing about the conviction, knowing actually what he had done, I think is very concerning.”
Gates has expressed support for the release of additional Epstein-related records and welcomed the opportunity to testify.
A spokesperson for Gates previously said he looked forward to assisting the committee’s work and answering questions about his interactions with Epstein.
