Bill Gates testifies before US Congress on Epstein ties

Bill Gates appeared before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to address his past relationship with convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein. In a closed‑door interview, Gates said he met Epstein in 2011 through trusted contacts and that the meetings were limited to professional discussions about fundraising for global‑health initiatives. He denied ever witnessing or being aware of Epstein’s criminal conduct, stating, “I never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct.”

Gates also claimed Epstein tried to leverage knowledge of Gates’s marital infidelities to blackmail him, a tactic he said was unsuccessful. After realizing Epstein could not deliver promised funding, Gates cut off all contact in late 2014. He expressed regret for the association and supported the full release of the Epstein files to aid victims and justice efforts.