Bill Gates is speaking out in a major way.
The Microsoft co-founder appeared before a congressional committee this week as lawmakers continued digging into the sprawling Jeffrey Epstein scandal. While the hearing took place behind closed doors, details from Gates’ testimony have now emerged, per BBC News and many other outlets on Wednesday, and they paint a fascinating picture of how the billionaire says his relationship with the disgraced financier actually unfolded.
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According to Gates, he supposedly never had a personal friendship with Epstein despite years of public scrutiny and countless questions about their association. In fact, Gates insisted he kept his distance from many aspects of Epstein’s life and never participated in the kinds of activities that have made Epstein’s name synonymous with scandal.
As Gates told lawmakers in his opening statement ahead of his closed-door testimony on Wednesday:
“I never went to his island, his ranch, or his Florida home. I have never victimized anyone. While he may have sought to foster a personal relationship, I was never interested in that and never reciprocated.”
That’s a pretty forceful denial!
Of course, the connection between the two men has been the subject of intense speculation for years. Gates’ name appeared numerous times in documents released earlier this year, and photos showing the two men together have continued to fuel questions about why the tech billionaire maintained contact with Epstein after the financier’s criminal conviction became public knowledge.
Gates acknowledged that he exercised poor judgment in meeting with Epstein and reportedly repeated his long-standing position that he regrets ever knowing him. But perhaps the most startling revelation from the testimony involved claims that Epstein allegedly attempted to use information about Gates’ private life against him.
The billionaire admitted lawmakers questioned him extensively about draft emails attributed to Epstein that contained sensational allegations regarding Gates’ personal affairs. Gates strongly disputed many of those claims, but he alleged that Epstein attempted to exploit the situation for leverage.
In one of the hearing’s most jaw-dropping moments, Gates stated:
“Epstein was working to use information about my infidelities — in addition to many lies that he layered on top — to pressure me to re-engage with him.”
Yikes.
According to Gates, the relationship initially centered on discussions about Microsoft’s philanthropy and potential fundraising efforts. He testified that Epstein introduced him to a group of prospective donors, creating the impression that meaningful financial support might be generated for global health initiatives.
But Gates said those expectations never materialized. And eventually, he concluded that Epstein’s promises weren’t leading anywhere productive and decided to walk away entirely. As Gates explained in his statement:
“At that point, I concluded Epstein would never deliver on his promises. I told him we would go no further and stopped communicating or meeting with him.”
Not everyone on Capitol Hill appeared fully satisfied by the explanation, however. Lawmakers reportedly pressed Gates behind closed doors during his testimony on how much he knew about Epstein’s past and whether it was believable that someone with access to enormous amounts of information like Gates would not have looked more deeply into the convicted offender’s background.
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Meanwhile, some committee members offered their own theories about Epstein’s behavior. One lawmaker described him as a “friend collector” who surrounded himself with powerful and influential figures to enhance his own status and image.
The testimony places Gates alongside a growing list of high-profile names who have been questioned as lawmakers continue examining Epstein’s network and influence. While Gates denied any knowledge of criminal activity and maintained that he never witnessed wrongdoing, the hearing yet again underscores how Epstein’s shadow continues to linger years after his death.
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[Image via New York Sex Offender Registry/MEGA/WENN]