Gates Defends Epstein Links in Congressional Testimony

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has defended his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during closed-door testimony before a congressional investigation, insisting he neither witnessed criminal conduct nor harmed anyone.

Appearing before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, Gates addressed years of scrutiny surrounding his meetings with Epstein, acknowledging that he deeply regrets the relationship and should never have engaged with him.

Following the hearing, Gates released his opening statement, in which he said he had no knowledge of ongoing criminal activity by Epstein and had never visited Epstein’s private island, ranch, or Florida residence. He also stressed that he had never victimised anyone.

Gates said he first met Epstein in 2011, several years after Epstein's 2008 conviction. According to his testimony, Epstein presented himself as someone capable of securing substantial philanthropic funding for global health initiatives. Gates admitted he was aware of Epstein’s past legal issues but said he failed to fully understand the severity of his crimes at the time.

The billionaire described a series of meetings between 2011 and 2014 focused on charitable and global health projects. However, he said the discussions ultimately led nowhere, with no funding secured and no philanthropic partnership established. Gates stated that all contact with Epstein ended in December 2014.

The testimony comes after the release of documents connected to the ongoing Epstein investigation, which include references to meetings, email exchanges and public events attended by both men. Gates emphasised that the records show only discussions related to philanthropy and fundraising efforts.

During his appearance, Gates also alleged that Epstein later sought to exploit personal information regarding his private life. He said Epstein became aware of his marital infidelity and attempted to use that information, alongside what Gates described as false claims, to pressure him into renewing contact.

The House Oversight Committee has been investigating Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell since 2025 as lawmakers examine how authorities handled allegations surrounding the disgraced financier and whether institutional failures enabled his crimes.

Committee Chairman James Comer said the investigation is focused on accountability and understanding how government agencies responded to allegations involving Epstein over several decades.

Several high-profile figures have already testified before the committee, including Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Pam Bondi and Howard Lutnick.

The committee is expected to continue its investigation in the coming months as lawmakers seek further testimony from prominent legal and government figures connected to the case.