I never victimized anyone. If he sought a personal relationship, I never reciprocated.
En los pasillos del poder donde la filantropía y el privilegio se entrelazan, Bill Gates compareció voluntariamente ante el Congreso para dar cuenta de su relación con Jeffrey Epstein, el financiero condenado por tráfico sexual de menores que murió en prisión en 2019. Gates reconoció un error grave de juicio al haber mantenido reuniones con Epstein entre 2011 y 2014, atraído por promesas de movilizar miles de millones para la salud global, pero negó haber sido testigo de abusos o haber participado en ellos. Su testimonio forma parte de una investigación más amplia que busca entender cómo figuras influyentes del mundo tecnológico, financiero y político orbitaron alrededor de un hombre cuyas crímenes afectaron a decenas de menores.
- Gates llegó al Capitolio cargando el peso de una asociación que, aunque breve, dañó su reputación y contribuyó al deterioro de su matrimonio con Melinda French Gates.
- Los documentos del Departamento de Justicia revelan correos, notas de calendario y fotografías que sitúan a Gates en el entorno de Epstein durante años en que el financiero ya había sido condenado por delitos sexuales.
- El comité investiga no solo a Gates sino a una constelación de hombres poderosos —Clinton, Trump, Dershowitz— cuyas conexiones con Epstein plantean preguntas incómodas sobre lo que sabían y cuándo lo supieron.
- Gates insistió en que nunca visitó las propiedades de Epstein vinculadas a los crímenes y que cortó el vínculo en 2014 al comprobar que las promesas filantrópicas eran vacías.
- La investigación avanza hacia nuevos testimonios, con la mirada puesta en cómo el Estado falló a las víctimas —algunas de apenas 14 años— mientras Epstein operaba durante años bajo la protección del silencio colectivo.
Bill Gates se presentó voluntariamente ante una audiencia a puerta cerrada en el Capitolio para responder preguntas sobre su relación con Jeffrey Epstein, el financiero que murió en una celda de Nueva York en 2019 mientras aguardaba juicio por tráfico sexual de menores. En una declaración previa, Gates calificó su vínculo con Epstein como "un grave error de juicio" y fue categórico: nunca victimizó a nadie, nunca presenció abusos y nunca visitó las propiedades del financiero asociadas a sus crímenes.
La relación había comenzado en 2011, tres años después de que Epstein se declarara culpable en Florida de solicitar prostitución a una menor. Gates explicó que fue presentado a Epstein a través de contactos profesionales y filantrópicos, y que el financiero prometió ayudar a recaudar miles de millones de dólares para iniciativas de salud global. Tras concluir en 2014 que esas promesas eran infundadas, Gates cortó el contacto. Los documentos bajo revisión congressional incluyen notas de reuniones, correspondencia sobre proyectos filantrópicos y fotografías de ambos en eventos compartidos. La Fundación Gates reconoció que un pequeño número de empleados se reunió con Epstein, aunque nunca se creó ningún fondo conjunto ni se le realizó pago alguno.
El presidente del Comité de Supervisión de la Cámara, el republicano James Comer, dejó claro antes de la audiencia que no se acusaba a Gates de ninguna irregularidad. "Esto es por las sobrevivientes", dijo, refiriéndose a las víctimas de Epstein y su cómplice Ghislaine Maxwell. La investigación, sin embargo, va mucho más allá de Gates: en febrero, el expresidente Bill Clinton declaró durante más de seis horas sobre su propia relación con Epstein, que incluía visitas a la Casa Blanca y vuelos en el jet privado del financiero. Clinton también negó haber presenciado abusos.
Los demócratas han exigido que el presidente Trump, quien también mantuvo una amistad documentada con Epstein, comparezca ante el comité. Comer indicó además que planea citar al abogado Alan Dershowitz y está en conversaciones con el Departamento de Justicia para que el fiscal general interino Todd Blanche también testifique. La pregunta que guía toda la investigación sigue sin respuesta completa: cómo pudo Epstein operar durante tanto tiempo, y qué sabían quienes lo rodeaban.
Bill Gates walked into a closed-door hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to answer questions about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier who died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges of sex trafficking minors. Gates had come voluntarily. In a statement provided to The Associated Press before the questioning began, he called his involvement with Epstein "a grave error of judgment" and said he should never have met with him at all.
The Microsoft cofounder's appearance marked another chapter in an ongoing congressional investigation into the web of powerful men—in technology, finance, politics, and beyond—whose names surfaced in documents released by the Department of Justice as part of its examination of Epstein's crimes. Gates has not been accused of wrongdoing. He was clear on that point: "I never victimized anyone," he said, adding that while Epstein may have sought to deepen their personal connection, Gates had never reciprocated and had no interest in doing so.
Gates explained that he had been introduced to Epstein through people connected to his professional and philanthropic work. Epstein had promised he could help raise billions of dollars for global health initiatives—the kind of promise that would have resonated with someone leading one of the world's largest charitable foundations. Gates said he ended the relationship in 2014 after concluding that Epstein could not deliver on those commitments. He also stated plainly that he had never visited Epstein's island or any of his other properties connected to the crimes.
The relationship had begun in 2011, three years after Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida to soliciting prostitution from a minor. It continued at least through late 2014, according to documents now under congressional review. Those files include calendar notes about meetings between the two men, email correspondence discussing philanthropic projects, and photographs of Gates at events where Epstein was also present. Gates' ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, has said the relationship created tension in their marriage. The Gates Foundation acknowledged in February that a small number of its employees had met with Epstein based on his claims about mobilizing philanthropic resources for global health. No joint fund was ever created, and the foundation made no payments to him.
Republican Representative James Comer, who chairs the House Oversight Committee, had formally requested Gates' testimony after his name appeared multiple times in the Justice Department documents. Before Wednesday's hearing, Comer told reporters that no one was accusing Gates of impropriety. "This is about the survivors," he said, referring to Epstein's victims and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. "It's about trying to figure out how the government failed."
Gates arrived at the Capitol saying he hoped his testimony would be useful to the committee's work and to the victims. The investigation extends far beyond Gates. In February, former President Bill Clinton spent more than six hours answering questions behind closed doors about his relationship with Epstein dating back more than twenty years. Epstein had visited the White House several times during Clinton's presidency, and the former president had occasionally flown on Epstein's private jet. Clinton has said he saw no signs of Epstein's sexual abuse and had distanced himself from him well before Epstein's 2008 guilty plea. He too has not been accused of wrongdoing.
Democrats on the House committee have pushed for President Donald Trump to testify. Trump, a Republican, also maintained a documented friendship with Epstein. Republicans have said they have found no evidence that the president did anything improper during that relationship. Comer indicated Wednesday that he plans to request testimony from attorney Alan Dershowitz and has been in communication with the Justice Department about having interim Attorney General Todd Blanche appear as well. The investigation into how Epstein operated, who knew what, and when they knew it, continues to unfold.
Notable Quotes
I never victimized anyone. If he sought a personal relationship, I never reciprocated.— Bill Gates, in testimony before the House Oversight Committee
This is about the survivors. It's about trying to figure out how the government failed.— Representative James Comer, House Oversight Committee chair
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why did Gates agree to testify voluntarily? He wasn't subpoenaed.
He wanted to get ahead of it, I think. His name was in the documents. Better to show up and explain yourself than have people speculate about what you're hiding.
But he says he never witnessed anything. So what's the actual concern here?
The concern isn't that Gates abused anyone. It's that he was in a relationship with someone committing serious crimes, and powerful people didn't see it—or didn't want to see it. The committee wants to understand how that happens.
He says Epstein promised to help him raise billions for health work. That's a legitimate reason to meet someone.
It is. But it's also the kind of promise that makes you less skeptical. Epstein was good at finding people's motivations and using them.
Why does it matter that Gates never visited the island or the other properties?
Because those were where the abuse happened. If Gates had been there, it would suggest deeper involvement. By saying he wasn't, he's drawing a line between knowing Epstein and knowing what Epstein was doing.
His ex-wife said the relationship caused tension in their marriage. What does that tell us?
That she knew something was wrong about it, even if Gates didn't see it that way. Sometimes the people closest to us see the warning signs we miss.
Is this investigation going to change anything?
It might clarify how a network of powerful people maintained relationships with someone committing crimes. Whether that leads to policy changes or just public understanding—that's still unfolding.