Bill Gates testified behind closed doors before the House Oversight Committee on June 10 regarding his relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The transcript of that testimony, released by the committee on Tuesday, shows that Gates spoke of \u201cveiled\u201d threats and described what he characterized as Epstein\u2019s attempt to use knowledge of Gates\u2019s extramarital affairs to pressure him to stay in Epstein\u2019s orbit.
\u201cI was not blackmailed,\u201d Gates said, according to the transcript. \u201cBut, you know, as you look at these emails, you know, it looks like Mr. Epstein\u2019s brainstorming was going in that direction.\u201d
He added that Epstein \u201cnever sent me anything that I would call blackmail.\u201d However, Gates said, Epstein \u201cwas sort of rehearsing how either he or he, coaching someone else, might choose to blackmail me, but none of those messages were ever sent to me.\u201d The emails Gates referred to were among those released in January by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of the Epstein case records.
Gates, 70, had released his opening remarks on the day of his testimony, in which he stated that he had never been aware of Epstein\u2019s criminal behavior and that he had \u201cnever victimized anyone.\u201d
The Microsoft founder told the Wall Street Journal in late February that his ties to Epstein were a \u201cmajor mistake\u201d and acknowledged having extramarital affairs with two Russian women, while denying any involvement with Epstein\u2019s illegal activities.
According to the transcript, Gates said his relationship with Epstein began in 2011, three years after Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida to state prostitution charges involving a minor. Gates said he had known that Epstein\u2019s conviction \u201cwas of a sexual nature\u201d but added, \u201cNo, I don\u2019t think I knew \u2013 dug into the specifics, although I probably should have.\u201d
Gates also said that he was told Epstein could raise billions of dollars for global health, an area Gates was deeply involved in through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.