Bill Gates testifies: no personal ties with Jeffrey Epstein
On Wednesday, billionaire Bill Gates answered questions before a closed‑door hearing of the House Oversight Committee. He denied having any personal relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying he had cut ties when Epstein failed to deliver on fundraising promises for his philanthropic foundation.
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Gates explained that Epstein had approached him for fundraising while the Gates Foundation was expanding global health initiatives. He described the talks as “dead‑end” after Epstein realized the group would not deliver the expected donations, leading Gates to stop all future communication.
He added that Epstein had tried to use knowledge of his marital affairs to pressure him into re‑engaging, a claim the Senator echoed as a warning about “friend collectors.” Gates stressed that he had never visited Epstein’s island, ranch, or Florida home and that he had no involvement in any alleged criminal activity.
The committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia, noted that Gates had been aware of Epstein’s potential conviction but continued interactions to raise money. In contrast, the committee’s Republican members called the questions “very intense,” pointing out that Gates had apologized for meeting Epstein and called the experience something he regrets.
Gates also addressed forged emails that claimed Epstein had arranged illicit trysts with women for him and that he had contracted a sexually transmitted infection. He denied these allegations, admitting to past affairs with Russian women but insisting that no underage individuals were involved.
The testimony, set against the backdrop of Jan. 2019 death of Epstein in jail and ongoing sentencing of Ghislaine Maxwell, underscores the broader U.S. congressional investigation into Epstein’s network of influential patrons.
