Bill Gates appeared before a congressional committee Wednesday to address questions about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, telling lawmakers under oath that he had no knowledge of the financier’s criminal activities.
The Microsoft co-founder arrived at Capitol Hill for a transcribed interview conducted behind closed doors as part of an ongoing congressional investigation into Epstein and his network of associates. The testimony represents a significant moment for Gates, whose connections to Epstein have cast a shadow over his extensive philanthropic work in recent years.
In his opening statement provided to members of the press, Gates offered a direct and unequivocal denial of any awareness of Epstein’s crimes. He explained that he was introduced to Epstein through individuals he trusted at a time when the financier was reportedly working to establish a charitable fund. Gates emphasized that these introductions came through legitimate channels and appeared to serve legitimate purposes at the time.
“I want to state very clearly: I never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct,” Gates said in his prepared remarks. “I never went to his island, his ranch, or his Florida home. I have never victimized anyone.”
The billionaire philanthropist went further, addressing what he characterized as Epstein’s attempts to cultivate a personal friendship. “While he may have sought to foster a personal relationship, I was never interested in that and never reciprocated,” Gates stated.
Gates specifically denied spending social time with Epstein, including visiting the financier’s private island or traveling aboard his aircraft. These details matter considerably, as Epstein’s properties and private plane have figured prominently in testimony from victims and in the broader investigation into his criminal enterprise.
The closed-door nature of the testimony means that the full scope of questions posed to Gates and his complete responses remain unknown to the public. Congressional investigators have been working to piece together the full extent of Epstein’s network and to determine whether any of his associates had knowledge of or participated in his crimes.
The revelations about Gates’s relationship with Epstein emerged publicly in recent years and contributed to significant turmoil in his personal and professional life. The connections became a point of contention within his marriage and have raised questions among donors and observers of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world’s largest charitable organizations.
Epstein died in federal custody in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide, though it sparked numerous conspiracy theories and left many questions unanswered about the full extent of his criminal activities and the involvement of others.
The congressional investigation continues as lawmakers seek to understand how Epstein maintained his connections within elite circles despite a prior conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. The panel’s work aims to provide accountability and prevent similar situations in the future.
Gates’s testimony represents one piece of a larger puzzle that investigators continue to assemble regarding one of the most notorious criminal cases in recent American history.
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