Overview
- Bill Gates told the House Oversight Committee in closed-door testimony that Jeffrey Epstein tried to pressure or blackmail him by using knowledge of his extramarital affairs, a claim Gates described as driven by “many lies.”
- Gates denied ever witnessing criminal conduct by Epstein and said he never visited Epstein’s island, ranch, or Florida home, calling his earlier association with Epstein a “grave error in judgment.”
- The testimony draws on document releases from the Justice Department that include email exchanges between Epstein and Gates and photos showing them at the same events, and it follows months of renewed congressional scrutiny of those files.
- The Gates Foundation is under an external review after released internal communications showed contact between Epstein and foundation staff, and Gates said he supports releasing all files to help get justice for victims.
- Lawmakers are using the DOJ materials and witness interviews to expand an inquiry into how authorities handled the Epstein case and to examine ties between Epstein and powerful figures, with further interviews and disclosures likely to follow.