Bill Gates Tells House Oversight Panel Epstein Meeting Was a Grave Error in Judgment

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates told the House Oversight Committee that his meeting with Jeffrey Epstein was "a grave error in judgment" while appearing in a closed-door setting probing the government’s investigation of Epstein.

“Bill Gates tells Oversight panel that meeting with Epstein was a 'grave error in judgment' The Microsoft co-founder is facing questions from the House Oversight Committee”

ABC News

Gates said he "never victimized anyone" and told lawmakers he never went to Epstein’s island, ranch, or Florida home, while also saying he was aware Epstein had faced prior legal issues but did not fully understand the extent of the crimes.

ABC News

In a separate closed-door transcribed interview, Gates told the committee that Epstein sought to "foster a personal relationship" but that he was never interested and never reciprocated.

The House Oversight Committee chair James Comer told reporters before the Wednesday interview that the committee wanted to know about Gates’s relationship with Epstein and Ms. Maxwell, asking, "What, what did he see? Did he know what was going on? Was he involved in any of this?"

Gates told lawmakers that Epstein became aware of "sensitive information about my personal life" and that Epstein used it to pressure him to re-engage, saying, "Epstein was working to use information about my infidelities" to further his agenda.

In the same prepared remarks, Gates said he "should never have met with Epstein in the first place" and reiterated that he never witnessed or had any indication Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct.

BBC

Rep. Robert Garcia, the committee’s ranking Democrat, said Gates was being "cooperative" in answering the committee’s questions but noted at times he was "pushing back," while also saying Gates referenced other individuals involved in Epstein’s circle, including former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers.

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia said there had been "a lot of apologies" from Gates, adding, "He is sorry he associated with Epstein so much ... but in the end what is done is done," as the hearing continued behind closed doors.

Gates told the House Oversight Committee that his interactions with Epstein began with preliminary meetings—"three in 2011 and two in 2012"—and that more extensive conversations in 2013 and 2014 focused on identifying potential giving structures such as donor-advised funds.

He said he realized in 2014 that Epstein "would never deliver on his promises" and that he stopped communicating or meeting with Epstein, while also telling lawmakers he made it clear Epstein would never play a role in his foundation’s work or receive any compensation.

The committee’s chair James Comer said the panel planned to question Gates about his relationship with Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, asking, "What did he see? Did he know what was going on? Was he involved in any of this?"

Comer also said he planned to ask Epstein’s former attorney Alan Dershowitz to come before the panel and that he wanted acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to answer questions from the committee next month, after Comer said, "Todd Blanche came in a month ago" and the Democrats stormed out.