Story perspectives

Bill Gates Testifies: Sought Epstein Donations, Denies Leverage

6/11/2026

Summary

Gates Testifies on Epstein

Bill Gates testified that Jeffrey Epstein tried to leverage his affairs to pressure people, but the attempts failed.
Gates admitted seeking donations from Epstein despite knowing his crimes, noting that his 2021 marriage ended partly because of the disclosures.
Rep. Robert Garcia (Democratic congressman from California) said Gates knowingly dealt with Epstein after the 2008 conviction and supplied names such as former Treasury secretary Larry Summers for the committee’s interviews.

Summary

Gates Questioned

The House Oversight Committee has held 15 closed-door interviews, including Bill Clinton and Bill Barr.
Over 3 million DOJ-released Epstein files reference Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder, and contain emails proposing a donor-advised fund that the Gates Foundation later rejected, commissioning an external review in February and planning to report findings this summer.
Rep. James Comer, committee chairman, said the panel will ask any witness anything, placing no limits on questioning Gates.

Summary

Gates Denies

Gates' team released his opening statement to the House Oversight Committee before the closed-door hearing.
The committee scheduled the hearing to last roughly four hours.
Gates said he never saw Jeffrey Epstein commit any criminal conduct and never victimized anyone.
Gates described meeting Epstein as a grave error in judgment that endangered his philanthropic work.

Summary

Gates Interviewed

Bill Gates will give an interview, with a transcript to follow.
Committee interviewed Les Wexner, President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and will interview counsel Kathryn Ruemmler and co-founder Leon Black.
Gates spokesperson told Fox News he welcomed testimony and saw no illegal conduct.
Documents show Jeffrey Epstein discovered Bill Gates’s affairs with women during his marriage, prompting Fox News to add audio for its Gates-Epstein articles.

History

Historical Context

After Alexander Acosta secured a 2008 non-prosecution agreement that let Jeffrey Epstein serve only 13 months and pay $85 million restitution, the deal shielded co-accused and halted further investigations. Bill Gates began meeting Epstein in 2011, later visiting his home in 2013. The House Oversight Committee now questions Gates, citing that 2008 plea as a catalyst for tighter philanthropy oversight.

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Gates Testifies on Epstein

Bill Gates testified that Jeffrey Epstein tried to leverage his affairs to pressure people, but the attempts failed.
Gates admitted seeking donations from Epstein despite knowing his crimes, noting that his 2021 marriage ended partly because of the disclosures.
Rep. Robert Garcia (Democratic congressman from California) said Gates knowingly dealt with Epstein after the 2008 conviction and supplied names such as former Treasury secretary Larry Summers for the committee’s interviews.

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