Gates-Epstein testimony
Bill Gates testifies before House Committee on Epstein ties, calls meeting a 'grave error in judgment'
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates testified before the House Oversight Committee on June 10, 2026, about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender. Gates called meeting Epstein a "grave error in judgment" but denied any wrongdoing, denied ever visiting Epstein's island, and said the Gates Foundation made zero payments to Epstein. Associated Press reported Gates arrived at Capitol Hill at 8:16 AM for the closed-door session.
Gates confirmed five meetings with Epstein — three in 2011 and two in 2012 — focused on global health funding, according to Al Jazeera. He also revealed that Epstein used knowledge of Gates' extramarital affairs to pressure him into continuing their partnership, a detail CBS News analysts say confirms long-standing rumors of attempted extortion.
How Gates and Epstein's Relationship Began and Grew
Gates first met Epstein in 2011, introduced through what he described as "trusted" professional contacts — three years after Epstein's 2008 conviction for procuring an underage girl for prostitution. The meetings were framed around philanthropic goals like global health funding. By 2013 and 2014, the discussions grew more extensive, according to CBS News, with Epstein acting as a middleman in exit negotiations for a Gates private office employee named Boris Nikolic.
Gates testified that Epstein "put his philanthropic work at risk." He insisted he never visited Epstein's island or other infamous properties. The Gates Foundation has maintained it met with Epstein only to discuss charitable projects and made no financial payments to him, according to Sentinel Colorado.
Why Congress Summoned Gates in 2026
The testimony stems from the Epstein Transparency Act of 2025. That law forced the release of millions of Justice Department files tied to the Epstein probe. Those files contained emails and photos linking Gates to Epstein more frequently than Gates had previously admitted in 2019, according to CBC News. Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer formally requested Gates' testimony on March 3, 2026, after Gates' name appeared repeatedly in the documents.
Gates is one of roughly ten high-profile figures interviewed by the committee in the past month alone. Others include Bill Clinton and Howard Lutnick, according to Reuters. The inquiry is not a criminal trial. It is a legislative investigation into how federal law enforcement allegedly mismanaged the Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cases.
Republicans Focus on Access, Democrats on Judgment
Chairman Comer told reporters that "no one's accusing Bill Gates of any wrongdoing," according to Washington Post. But he framed the hearing around how Epstein used elite relationships to "curry favor" and shield himself. Republicans want to know how a convicted sex offender continued to move freely among the world's most powerful people for over a decade.
Democrats took a different tone. Rep. Robert Garcia, the committee's ranking Democrat, called Gates' continued meetings with Epstein after his 2008 conviction a "horrific judgment call" that gave Epstein a "veneer of respectability," according to Associated Press. Garcia did acknowledge that Gates was cooperative during the session.
What Comes Next for the Investigation and Legislation
The committee plans to use Gates' testimony to help draft new anti-sex-trafficking legislation. It also aims to write ethics rules for high-profile officials to prevent future "influence-peddling" by sex offenders, according to the House Oversight Committee. Gates' voluntary appearance is seen as a signal that private wealth is no longer a shield from congressional scrutiny.
The fallout may also reshape how major nonprofits vet partners. CBS News noted the committee is likely to push for stricter donor and partner screening processes within large global foundations like the Gates Foundation. With millions of DOJ files still being reviewed, more prominent names from Epstein's network are expected to be called before the committee in the coming months.
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