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Gates tells Congress Epstein tried to blackmail him over extramarital affairs

6 sources · 11 Jun 2026 · Share coverage ·

verbatim from the press paraphrased ? no verbatim passage

Bill Gates testified yesterday to the U.S. Congress that Jeffrey Epstein tried to blackmail him using information about his extramarital affairs, but that the attempt failed. The 70-year-old Microsoft founder gave closed-door testimony to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee about his relationship with the financier convicted of sex crimes.

Press quotes (3)
Cbsnews

"Gates, 70, denied witnessing any criminal conduct by Epstein and also denied victimizing anyone himself in his testimony to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee."

Cnbc

"Gates, 70, denied witnessing any criminal conduct by Epstein and also denied victimizing anyone himself in his testimony to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Gates' testimony comes a day after the committee questioned Epstein's former longtime executive assista"

IstoÉ

"Bill Gates disse aos membros do Congresso dos Estados Unidos nesta quarta-feira [June 10, 2026] que 'não compreendia totalmente a gravidade' dos crimes de Jeffrey Epstein quando se associou ao falecido condenado criminoso sexual para arrecadar fundos para sua fundação filantrópic"

"Epstein was working to use information about my infidelities — in addition to many lies that he layered on top — to pressure me to re-engage with him," Gates said in his opening statement, according to CBS News. Gates stated that the extramarital affairs "were painful for my family" but "had nothing to do with my interactions with Epstein." ?

Press quotes (2)
Cbsnews

"Epstein was working to use information about my infidelities — in addition to many lies that he layered on top — to pressure me to re-engage with him"

Cbsnews

"These affairs had nothing to do with my interactions with Epstein, but they were painful for my family."

Gates denied witnessing any criminal conduct by Epstein or visiting his properties. According to the testimony, his substantive interactions with Epstein occurred between 2011 and 2014, focused on discussions about "potential giving structures" for his philanthropic foundation — conversations that "were a dead-end." ?

Press quotes (2)
Cbsnews

"I never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct. I never went to his island, his ranch, or his Florida home."

Cbsnews

"between 2011 and 2014, he and Epstein discussed "potential giving structures" related to Gates' philanthropic fund, but the discussions "were a dead-end."

The testimony comes in the context of a congressional investigation into how the Department of Justice conducted cases involving Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. A systematic review conducted by the DOJ and FBI in July 2025 examined more than 300 gigabytes of data and physical evidence related to Epstein, concluding that "no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions."

Press quotes (4)
Justice

"These searches uncovered a significant amount of material, including more than 300 gigabytes of data and physical evidence."

Justice

"There was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions."

Npr

"This systematic review revealed no incriminating 'client list.' There was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions. We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties."

DCM

"O fundador da Microsoft prestou depoimento privado nesta quarta-feira (10) ao Comitê de Supervisão e Reforma Governamental da Câmara dos Representantes. [...] A comissão da Câmara investiga a forma como o Departamento de Justiça dos Estados Unidos conduziu os casos envolvendo Eps"

1. What we know (2)

Gates testified to House Oversight Committee on June 10, 2026

4 sources DCM IstoÉ Cbsnews Cnbc

Gates denied witnessing criminal conduct by Epstein

3 sources DCM IstoÉ Cbsnews
2. Where coverage thins out (3)

Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.

Covered by only some sources (2)

Gates Foundation initiated external review of involvement with Epstein

Reported by: IstoÉ
Did not cover: DCM Cbsnews Cnbc

Gates hired Jake Greenberg, former committee staff, for testimony preparation

Reported by: IstoÉ
Did not cover: DCM Cbsnews Cnbc

Conflicting versions (1)

Existence of evidence of blackmail by Epstein

4 sources — "Gates states Epstein tried to blackmail him using information about extramarital affairs": Cbsnews Cnbc DCM IstoÉ
1 source — "DOJ/FBI systematic review found no credible evidence Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals": Justice
3. What we don't know yet (3)
  • What specific evidence did Epstein possess about Gates' affairs?

    Why it's still unknown: Gates mentioned that Epstein had information about his infidelities but did not detail what type of evidence or documents Epstein possessed

    Did not cover: DCM IstoÉ
  • How did Epstein obtain access to Gates' personal information?

    Why it's still unknown: The testimony did not clarify by what means Epstein obtained information about Gates' personal life

    Did not cover: Cbsnews Cnbc
  • What was the specific role of Gates Foundation staff in communications with Epstein?

    Why it's still unknown: Although emails between Epstein and Gates Foundation staff were released by the DOJ, the specific content of these communications was not detailed

    Did not cover: Cbsnews Cnbc

All sources

6