Bill Gates Tells Congress He Underestimated Extent of Epstein’s Crimes

June 11, 2026

Mintesinot Nigussie

Bill Gates told US lawmakers that he did not fully understand the extent of Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal conduct when he met with the disgraced financier, as congressional investigators continue examining the federal government's handling of the Epstein case.

The Microsoft co-founder appeared before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee as part of a broader investigation into the Justice Department’s management of cases involving Epstein and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.

During the transcribed interview, Gates said his interactions with Epstein were linked to efforts to raise support for philanthropic initiatives and that he never witnessed criminal activity during their meetings.

According to Gates, his association with Epstein continued after the financier's 2008 conviction because he believed discussions could help expand the reach of his charitable work. He acknowledged, however, that the relationship was a mistake.

Gates also alleged that Epstein later sought to use information about his extramarital affairs to pressure him into renewing contact.

“These affairs had nothing to do with my interactions with Epstein, but they were painful for my family,” Gates told the committee. He added that Epstein attempted to leverage information about his personal life, along with what he described as false claims, to re-engage with him.

The testimony comes amid renewed scrutiny of Epstein’s network of high-profile contacts following the release of Justice Department documents earlier this year. Those records indicated that Gates and Epstein met multiple times after Epstein served a prison sentence in 2008 and discussed philanthropic projects. The documents also included photographs showing Gates with unidentified women whose faces were redacted.

The committee’s interest in Gates stems from questions surrounding the extent of his relationship with Epstein and whether any relevant information was overlooked during previous federal investigations.