Gates Calls Epstein Meetings a 'Grave Error in Judgment'
Bill Gates admitted in closed-door testimony to Congress on Wednesday that his meetings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were a "grave error in judgment" – while insisting he never witnessed any crimes and "never victimized anyone." The Microsoft co-founder, 70, faced the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee as part of a wider probe into the government's handling of Epstein-related cases.
Meeting with Epstein was a grave error in judgement and put this work at risk. His behavior was antithetical to all my efforts to contribute to a world where everyone has a chance to live a healthy and productive life.Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder and philanthropistMore quotes from Bill Gates →
Gates told investigators he first met Epstein in 2011 – three years after the financier pleaded guilty in Florida to soliciting an underage girl for prostitution – as part of an effort to raise money for the Gates Foundation and its global health initiatives. But no donations ever materialized, CNBC reported.
Gates Denies Witnessing Crimes or Victimizing Anyone
In his prepared opening remarks, Gates directly addressed the most damaging speculation. He stated he never went to Epstein's island, his New Mexico ranch, or his Florida home, and denied any personal knowledge of ongoing criminal activity.
I want to state very clearly: I never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct. I never went to his island, his ranch, or his Florida home. I have never victimized anyone.Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder and philanthropistMore quotes from Bill Gates →
The billionaire also revealed that Epstein later attempted to use information about Gates' marital infidelity as leverage to maintain their association. Gates divorced Melinda French Gates in 2021 after 27 years of marriage, and his extramarital affair with a Microsoft employee was a factor in the split.
Part of a Broader Congressional Epstein Probe
The testimony is one of the highest-profile interviews conducted by the committee since it began probing the government's handling of investigations into Epstein. Just a day earlier, the panel questioned Epstein's former longtime executive assistant, Lesley Groff. Millions of pages of documents have already been released by the Justice Department, revealing unverified allegations and Epstein's web of powerful connections.
Gates walked out of the interview around 3:50 p.m. ET without speaking to reporters. A full transcript of his closed-door testimony is expected to be made public in the next several days, which could fuel further scrutiny of the philanthropist.
I was so focused on the possibility of raising funds for global health that I allowed that goal to override my better judgment. That is a sobering realization, and it has reinforced for me the importance of being more attentive to how access and reputation can be manipulated by people acting in bad faith.Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder and philanthropistMore quotes from Bill Gates →
Gates has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. However, his association with the disgraced financier has already damaged his reputation and strained relationships within the Gates Foundation, where he apologized to staff in February for his ties.
