Under Oath, Bill Gates Reveals the Specific Leverage Jeffrey Epstein Held Over His Marriage
Sinister ties.
Bill Gates just dropped a major bombshell under oath, revealing that Jeffrey Epstein allegedly tried to blackmail him into staying in their toxic friendship. Testifying before the House Oversight Committee on June 10, 2026, he admitted Epstein knew about his marital infidelities and weaponized that information to pressure him. Gates, 70, called the late sex trafficker’s tactics a mix of “sensitive information” and “many lies” layered on top to manipulate him.
Gates made it clear Epstein’s efforts failed. “Epstein was working to use information about my infidelities to pressure me to re-engage with him,” Gates told lawmakers, according to Us Weekly. He added that the public can now see the full scope of Epstein’s schemes, thanks to the Department of Justice releasing the Epstein Files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Those files, which dropped earlier this year, included an unsent email from Epstein alleging Gates had contracted a sexually transmitted infection after sleeping with “two Russian” girls. Gates flat-out denied the claim in February, calling the email “false” and questioning Epstein’s motives. “I don’t know what his thinking was there,” he said at the time. “Was he trying to attack me in some way?”
Gates detailed how the Epstein connection impacted his personal life
He and his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, announced their split in May 2021 after 27 years of marriage. Gates didn’t shy away from addressing the pain his affairs caused his family, though he insisted they had nothing to do with his interactions with Epstein. “These affairs had nothing to do with my interactions with Epstein, but they were painful for my family,” he said.
He also doubled down on his regret over ever meeting Epstein, a sentiment he’s repeated publicly for years. “I should never have met with Epstein,” he told the committee. “Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologize that I did that.”
The Microsoft co-founder was quick to distance himself from any personal relationship with Epstein, insisting they only met three times to discuss potential philanthropic work. “I was never interested in that and never reciprocated,” he said, adding that he never witnessed or had any indication Epstein was engaged in criminal activity.
By 2014, Gates realized Epstein “would never deliver on his promises,” so he cut ties entirely. “I told him we would go no further and stopped communicating or meeting with him,” Gates claimed. “No vehicle for charitable giving was ever created and no funds were raised.”
The House Oversight Committee has been digging into Epstein’s web of connections for months
It has interviewed high-profile figures like Gates as part of its broader probe. Committee Chair James Comer said no one is accusing Gates of wrongdoing, but the timeline of the relationship has raised eyebrows. Gates was introduced to Epstein in 2011, years after the financier’s 2008 conviction for sex crimes.
At the time, Epstein claimed he could help with fundraising for Gates’ global health philanthropy efforts, but Gates said those conversations turned out to be a “dead end.” He admitted he didn’t fully grasp the extent of Epstein’s crimes when they first met, calling it a lapse in judgment. “I accepted the introduction without applying the scrutiny I should have,” Gates said.
Rep. Robert Garcia, the committee’s ranking member, didn’t mince words when discussing Gates’ association with Epstein. “That fact that Mr. Gates and so many other powerful men continued to have relationships, friendships, in the case of Mr. Gates, who’s trying to get investment for his foundation, I think is really troubling,” Garcia said, according to The Hill.
He added that the pattern of powerful men ignoring Epstein’s crimes to maintain their connections is deeply concerning. “It just goes to show that there’s so many powerful men and individuals who chose to look the other way or chose to ignore what Mr. Epstein was doing to continue that relationship,” Garcia said.
Gates’ testimony marks the 15th interview conducted as part of the investigation
Comer said the goal is straightforward: figure out what Gates knew, what he saw, and whether he was involved in any way. “We just want to know about his relationship with Mr. Epstein and Ms. [Ghislaine] Maxwell,” Comer said. “What did he see? Did he know what was going on? Was he involved in any of this?”
So far, Gates has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s illicit activities. Still, the fact that Gates continued meeting with Epstein after his 2008 conviction has left lawmakers and the public with more questions than answers.
Gates’ account of his interactions with Epstein is a stark reminder of how easily powerful figures can be drawn into toxic relationships. He framed their meetings as purely professional, centered on philanthropy, but Epstein’s alleged blackmail attempts suggest a far more sinister dynamic. The unsent email from Epstein, which surfaced in the January release of the Epstein Files, adds another layer of intrigue.
Why would anyone engage with Epstein after his 2008 conviction?
Gates admitted he was aware of Epstein’s legal troubles but didn’t fully understand the scope of his crimes at the time. That lack of scrutiny is something he now regrets. “I recall being aware that Epstein had faced prior legal issues, but I did not fully understand the extent of the crimes he committed,” Gates said.
It’s a common thread among Epstein’s associates, many of whom have claimed ignorance or downplayed their connections. But with the Epstein Files now public, the full extent of his manipulation is harder to ignore.
The House Oversight Committee’s investigation is far from over. With subpoenas issued for figures like former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton, the probe is casting a wide net. Both Clintons have denied any knowledge of Epstein’s illicit activities, but the committee is determined to uncover the full truth.
(Featured image: European Parliament)
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