The founder of Microsoft testified before the House Oversight Committee and stated that the financier used sensitive information about his private life to try to pressure him
Bill Gates has once again found himself in the spotlight due to his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier convicted of sexual offenses who died in prison in 2019. During a closed-door testimony before the House Oversight Committee, the co-founder of Microsoft stated that Epstein tried to blackmail him using information about an infidelity that occurred during his marriage to Melinda French Gates.
According to the magnate, the financier allegedly tried to leverage details of his private life to pressure him and regain contact after he decided to cut all ties with him.
Bill Gates acknowledged that the financier tried to blackmail him
What did Bill Gates say about Jeffrey Epstein's alleged blackmail?
During his testimony, Gates asserted that he became aware that Epstein had sensitive information about personal aspects of his life.
"I knew that Epstein had knowledge of sensitive information about my personal life, including the fact that I had been unfaithful in my marriage. These situations had nothing to do with my interactions with Epstein, but they were painful for my family," he stated.
The businessman explained that, over the years and after the release of documents related to the Epstein case, he realized that the financier attempted to use that data to get close to him again.
"As the public can now see, based on what has been revealed in the files, Epstein was trying to use information about my infidelities, along with many lies he added, to pressure me into getting involved with him again," he declared. However, Gates emphasized that those attempts were unsuccessful.
The Microsoft founder once again acknowledged that getting involved with Epstein was one of the biggest judgment errors of his life.
As he explained, he met the financier in 2011 through people related to his philanthropic and professional work. "I was introduced to Epstein by people I trusted within my work in global health and philanthropy," he indicated.
At that time, Epstein claimed to have access to potential billionaire donors interested in funding public health projects driven by Gates' foundation. That possibility was what initially piqued the businessman’s interest.
