Bill Gates Confirms the Identities of His Former Partners in a Desperate Bid to Debunk Epstein’s Extortion Attempt
Guilt by association.
Bill Gates just named the two women he had affairs with during his marriage to Melinda, all while seemingly trying to shut down Jeffrey Epstein’s extortion attempts. According to LADBible, the Microsoft co-founder testified to Congress earlier this month that Epstein had dug up dirt on his infidelities and tried to use it as leverage to reconnect. Now, the full details of that hearing are public.
Gates confirmed the affairs involving bridge player Mila Antonova and nuclear scientist Karima Nigmatulina. He said the affairs were painful for his family, but allegedly had nothing to do with his interactions with Epstein. But that didn’t allegedly stop Epstein from trying to weaponize the information. He claimed that Epstein layered lies on top of the truth to pressure him into re-engaging, though he insists those efforts failed.
“I should never have met with Epstein in the first place,” Gates said, calling the whole situation a lesson in poor judgment. The tech billionaire also doubled down on denying other explosive claims from the Epstein files, including allegations that he sought Epstein’s help for a sexually transmitted disease. His spokesperson called those accusations “absurd and completely false” and pointed out that Epstein was just a “proven, disgruntled liar” trying to defame Gates.
The hearing transcript reveals just how deep Epstein’s manipulation went
Gates testified that after cutting ties with Epstein in 2014, the disgraced financier once emailed demanding “reimbursement” for expenses related to one of Gates’ affairs. Gates told his top aide, Larry Cohen, that they’d “never pay anything.” But Epstein’s tactics didn’t stop there. A draft email, apparently written by Epstein on behalf of Gates’ former science adviser Boris Nikolic, painted a wild picture of Gates’ personal life.
The email claimed Gates had asked for help obtaining drugs to deal with the “consequences of sex with Russian girls” and even facilitated “illicit trysts with married women.” Gates has flatly denied those claims, calling the email a mix of truths and outright fabrications.
Gates also addressed another uncomfortable detail from the Epstein saga – whether he ever crossed paths with Epstein’s victims. During his closed-door testimony, he admitted he might have been in their presence, though he insists he never interacted with them directly.
According to CNN, Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia pressed him on the point, noting that some of Epstein’s employees were also victims. Gates acknowledged seeing female employees at the end of a meeting on one of Epstein’s planes but said he had no idea about their circumstances. It’s a small but telling admission, one that underscores how hard it is to completely distance yourself from someone like Epstein once you’re in their orbit.
The whole situation raises questions about why Gates ever engaged with Epstein in the first place
He testified that he was aware of Epstein’s criminal conviction for sexual offenses but still pursued a professional relationship, hoping Epstein could help raise billions for global health initiatives. That opportunity never materialized, and Gates now says he regrets not factoring in Epstein’s reputation more seriously.
“I have regret that I didn’t factor that in to a greater degree,” he told lawmakers. It’s a rare moment of self-criticism from the tech mogul, who also called Epstein’s wealth accumulation “confusing” and described his New York City apartment as one of the most “spacious” homes he’d ever seen.
Gates isn’t the only one whose ties to Epstein are under scrutiny
Lesley Groff, Epstein’s longtime assistant, also testified to Congress, calling her former boss a “master manipulator” but denying any knowledge of his crimes. Groff revealed that she connected Epstein and President Donald Trump on the phone multiple times over a decade, though she claims she never knew what they discussed.
Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein. Groff’s testimony didn’t sit well with survivors, who criticized her for booking appointments for Epstein even after his 2008 jail stint. She defended herself by saying she didn’t always know the nature of those appointments, insisting she thought they were legitimate massages.
The Epstein files have become a goldmine of uncomfortable revelations, and Gates’ testimony is no exception. He’s tried to draw a clear line between his personal mistakes and Epstein’s criminal behavior, but the two are undeniably tangled.
The fallout isn’t over yet. Gates has thrown his support behind the full release of the documents, hoping it will lead to justice for victims. His spokesperson said Gates answered every question during his nearly six-hour interview with the House Oversight Committee, and now the public can see the unredacted transcript for themselves.
(Featured image: European Commission – Photographer: Lukasz Kobus)
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