Bill Gates testified Epstein sought to blackmail him, transcript reveals

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates told U.S. lawmakers that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had attempted to blackmail him over his extramarital affairs, according to a transcript of his testimony. Gates appeared behind closed doors before the House Oversight Committee on June 10 to discuss his relationship with the disgraced financier.

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I was not blackmailed, but you know, as you look at these emails, you know, it looks like Mr. Epstein’s brainstorming was going in that direction.

The transcript reveals Gates described "veiled" threats from Epstein. He suggested Epstein considered using his knowledge of Gates's affairs to compel him to stay involved with him, even as Gates sought to distance himself. "I was not blackmailed, but you know, as you look at these emails, you know, it looks like Mr. Epstein’s brainstorming was going in that direction," Gates testified, referring to documents released by the Justice Department.

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He never sent me anything that I would call blackmail.

While Gates maintained that Epstein never sent him direct blackmail messages, he perceived draft emails as Epstein "rehearsing how either he or he, coaching someone else, might choose to blackmail me." Gates, who has previously called his ties to Epstein a "major mistake," admitted to extramarital affairs with two Russian women in February. He claimed his relationship with Epstein began in 2011 and that he was aware of Epstein's legal issues but also told Epstein could raise significant funds for global health initiatives.

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But it appeared to Gates that through draft emails, Epstein “was sort of rehearsing how either he or he, coaching someone else, might choose to blackmail me, but none of those messages were ever sent to me.”