Bill Gates revealed in congressional testimony that Jeffrey Epstein had knowledge of his extramarital affairs and attempted to use them as leverage against him. The billionaire businessman provided detailed information about his relationship with the convicted sex offender.
The Microsoft founder’s confession
The Microsoft co-founder once again publicly confirmed that he committed adultery during his marriage to Melinda Gates. According to his testimony, Epstein had gained access to sensitive information about his personal life and used it strategically. The billionaire claimed that the convicted pedophile exploited these painful personal secrets in a blackmail attempt. The goal was to force Gates to restore their collaboration, after he had decided to terminate all contact with Epstein. However, he denied any illegal acts, according to the Daily Mail.
Gates met and befriended Epstein in 2011
“I learned that Epstein had obtained sensitive information about my personal life, including the fact that I had cheated on my wife. These relationships had nothing to do with my contacts with Epstein, but they were painful for my family,” Gates stated in a written statement prepared for the House Oversight Committee.
Gates met and befriended Epstein in 2011, after the latter promised he could help raise billions of dollars for global public health initiatives. Epstein was already registered as a sex offender, having pleaded guilty in Florida three years earlier to soliciting a minor for prostitution. “I remember knowing that Epstein had faced previous legal problems, but I had not fully understood the extent of the crimes he had committed. I accepted the introduction without exercising the judgment I should have,” Gates told Congress members. “I want to state clearly: I was never a witness nor did I have any indication that Epstein was involved in any ongoing criminal activity,” he said in his opening statement. “I never harmed anyone,” he added.
His contacts with Epstein were limited
He claimed that his contacts with Epstein were limited and testified that he severed all contact in 2014. Gates alleged that Epstein used what he knew about the infidelities, “in addition to the many lies he added,” to try to restore their relationship. “His attempt was unsuccessful, but it shows some of the ways he tried to weaponize our relationship to advance his purposes,” he said, emphasizing that “we should never have met at all.”
Gates was called to testify before Congress following revelations from Epstein’s files that disclosed new details about their friendship.
