Bill Gates calls Epstein meetings a ‘grave error’ while defending actions in house testimony
Key takeaways
- Gates said he should never have met Epstein and had no indication of ongoing criminal conduct.
- The tech billionaire became the latest powerful figure linked to Epstein to testify before the House Oversight Committee in a closed-door deposition.
- As Gates arrived at the Capitol, he noted that his appearance was voluntary and said he hoped his testimony would help lawmakers “find justice for the victims.”
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Bill Gates said on Wednesday he made a “grave error in judgment” by meeting Jeffrey Epstein but denied any wrongdoing, as the Microsoft co-founder faced hours of questioning before the House Oversight Committee about his ties to the disgraced financier. Gates said he should never have met Epstein and had no indication of ongoing criminal conduct.
By: FRANCE 24 Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates (center) arrives for a closed-door hearing before a US congressional committee regarding the Epstein case, June 10, 2026, Washington © Kent NISHIMURA, AFP Bill Gates said Wednesday that he made a “grave error in judgment” by meeting with Jeffrey Epstein but denied any wrongdoing as the Microsoft co-founder faced hours of questioning from lawmakers about his relationship with the disgraced financier.
In an opening statement provided to The Associated Press, Gates said he “should never have met with Epstein in the first place,” but that he “never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct.”