In brief
Billionaire Bill Gates appeared before the U.S. House Oversight Committee on June 10 to deny any personal connection with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He explained he severed ties when Epstein failed to deliver on promised fundraising for his philanthropic foundation and warned that Epstein used knowledge of his marital indiscretions to pressure him. Gates echoed earlier admissions of poor judgment in meeting Epstein and stressed that no personal gains were realized. Committee members, including Democrats and Republicans, questioned the extent of his knowledge of Epstein’s background, while noting that Gates had been widely photographed in Epstein’s orbit. The testimony adds to the growing scrutiny of powerful figures who interacted with Epstein as he built a network of influential “friends.”
On Wednesday, 17 minutes after the event, billionaire Bill Gates appeared before the U.S. House Oversight Committee to testify on the issue of former financier Jeffrey Epstein. Gates denied any personal relationship with the now‑deceased mogul, emphasising that his connection was limited to fundraising for his foundation.
"I never went to his island, his ranch, or his Florida home. I have never victimised anyone," Gates told the panel. He added that while Epstein may have sought a personal bond, Gates was uninterested and never reciprocated.
Gates said he had cut ties with Epstein after realizing that the promised fundraising efforts never materialised. He noted that Epstein’s group of potential donors ultimately proved to be a dead‑end, spelling out that "the prior discussions ought to have processed meaningful philanthropic support but turned out to be a dead‑end." He further explained that he ended communication and ceased all meetings with Epstein.
During the hearing, Congress members – including Democrats Robert Garcia and Emily Randall – pressed Gates on the extent of his knowledge of Epstein’s background, a line of questioning that echoed earlier inquiries made of high‑profile associates such as former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The committee highlighted that Gates had been photographed with Epstein on several occasions, finding his name mentioned thousands of times in the Department of Justice’s January release of documents tied to the investigation.
Gates also referenced past allegations circulated by draft emails linked to Epstein. He denied those accusations, stating that no underage children or minors were introduced to him by Epstein. Gates also admitted having extramarital affairs with two Russian women – a fact he said he regretted and that he hoped the survivors of Epstein’s crimes would receive justice.
"Epstein was a friend collector at a mere degree: he wanted to engage with prominent individuals, capture photographs, and project power and influence," echoed Democrat Tim Burchett. The testimony shed light on Epstein’s attempts to manipulate personal details, with Gates stating that he was unaware that Epstein could be convicted for a horrific crime, yet continued to engage with him for possible financial contributions to his foundation.
The testimony, joined by the remarks of the Senate, set a backdrop for the continuing investigations into Epstein’s network of powerful men. Gates promised that he had put an end to any association with Epstein and would not allow Epstein’s influence on his foundation’s work or compensation. He further added that the verification process had never been robust enough to uncover the full facts of Epstein’s connections.
