Bill Gates told congressional investigators that Jeffrey Epstein attempted to use sensitive information about his private life to reestablish contact after their relationship had cooled, according to prepared testimony delivered during a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee.
The Microsoft co-founder, whose past interactions with Epstein have remained under scrutiny for years, described his association with the disgraced financier as a "grave error in judgement" and said Epstein unsuccessfully sought to exert influence over him by leveraging personal information. The testimony comes as lawmakers continue reviewing recently released Department of Justice records tied to the Epstein investigation.
Gates' appearance before Congress marks one of the most prominent witness interviews in the committee's ongoing examination of Epstein-related documents and the network of influential individuals who interacted with him after his 2008 conviction on prostitution-related charges.
According to Gates' prepared remarks, his initial meetings with Epstein were connected to discussions surrounding global health and philanthropy. Gates told lawmakers that Epstein presented himself as someone capable of helping raise significant funding for charitable initiatives, creating what Gates later acknowledged was a serious misjudgment.
As their relationship developed, Gates said Epstein became aware of highly personal aspects of his life, including information related to infidelity during his marriage to Melinda French Gates. Following the public release of Justice Department files, Gates reportedly acknowledged to employees that he had affairs with two Russian women during his marriage.
Gates told lawmakers that Epstein later attempted to use that knowledge, along with what Gates characterized as false claims, to draw him back into his orbit after communication between the two men had diminished.
"He was unsuccessful in this effort," Gates said in his prepared statement.
The testimony arrives amid renewed attention on documents recovered from Epstein's records. Among the materials reviewed by investigators are draft emails found in Epstein's accounts containing allegations involving Gates. According to reports, the messages appear to have been written by Epstein himself and may never have been transmitted to anyone.
The allegations contained in those drafts remain unverified, and no evidence has emerged indicating the messages were shared with Gates or third parties. During his congressional interview, Gates reportedly rejected the claims and argued that Epstein frequently made statements that were inaccurate or fabricated.
Representative Robert Garcia later told reporters that Gates firmly denied any involvement with underage girls and maintained that Epstein never introduced him to women or girls. Gates has consistently stated that he never visited Epstein's private island, never attended parties associated with him, and never participated in any criminal conduct connected to the financier.
Still, lawmakers continue to focus on a central question that has followed Gates for years: why he maintained contact with Epstein after the financier's criminal conviction became public knowledge.
According to Gates, when he first met Epstein in 2011, he was aware that Epstein had faced legal problems but did not fully understand the scope of his criminal conduct. He told investigators that Epstein's claims about supporting global health initiatives contributed to his willingness to engage with him during that period.
Documents released through the Justice Department show multiple interactions between the two men over several years, including meetings, meals and email exchanges. One 2014 communication reportedly included Gates thanking Epstein for a breakfast meeting, while other records show Epstein extending invitations to locations associated with him. Gates has said he never accepted an invitation to visit Epstein's private island.
