Epstein was trying to use information about my infidelities to pressure me back
Diante do Comitê de Supervisão da Câmara dos Representantes, Bill Gates prestou depoimento sobre sua relação com Jeffrey Epstein, o financista condenado por crimes sexuais. O fundador da Microsoft reconheceu contatos profissionais entre 2011 e 2014, mas negou ter testemunhado qualquer conduta criminosa ou ter vitimizado alguém. O episódio revela como figuras de enorme influência podem orbitar ao redor de redes de abuso sem — segundo afirmam — perceber sua verdadeira natureza, e levanta questões duradouras sobre responsabilidade, ingenuidade e poder.
- Gates foi convocado porque seu nome aparece em documentos do Departamento de Justiça que detalham as operações ilegais de Epstein — uma presença incômoda que exigiu explicação pública.
- Fotografias mostram Gates ao lado de Epstein e do príncipe Andrew, e um e-mail escrito pelo financista sugere uma tentativa de chantagem usando alegações de infidelidade misturadas a fabricações.
- Gates respondeu com linguagem cuidadosamente delimitada: o contato foi breve, profissional, e encerrado quando percebeu que as promessas de doações nunca se concretizariam.
- O depoimento é peça de uma investigação mais ampla do Comitê de Supervisão sobre a rede criminosa de Epstein e suas conexões com pessoas influentes ao redor do mundo.
- A questão central permanece em aberto: o comitê avalia se a versão de Gates — a de um homem manipulado, não cúmplice — é suficientemente convincente para encerrar o assunto.
Bill Gates compareceu à Câmara dos Representantes na quarta-feira para depor sobre sua relação com Jeffrey Epstein. O fundador da Microsoft apresentou um relato preciso e defensivo: conheceu Epstein em 2011, por indicação de pessoas de sua confiança no universo filantrópico, e manteve contatos profissionais até 2014. "Nunca vitimizei ninguém", afirmou. "Nunca testemunhei nem tive qualquer indicação de que Epstein estava envolvido em conduta criminosa contínua."
As reuniões iniciais foram breves e focadas em trabalho. Em 2013 e 2014, os encontros ganharam outro contorno: Epstein havia reunido potenciais doadores interessados em contribuições filantrópicas significativas. Gates participou de ao menos um desses encontros em busca de financiamento para sua fundação. A decepção foi imediata — ninguém demonstrou interesse real. Gates disse a Epstein que não continuariam e encerrou o contato.
O problema é que seu nome aparece nos documentos liberados pelo Departamento de Justiça sobre as operações ilegais de Epstein. Fotografias mostram Gates ao lado do financista, do príncipe Andrew e de mulheres não identificadas. Mais grave ainda é um e-mail no qual Epstein sugere que Gates teria pedido sua ajuda para ocultar uma infecção sexualmente transmissível contraída após relações com mulheres russas. Gates classificou o conteúdo como mentira — parte de um esquema de chantagem que misturava suas infidelidades reais a fabricações, com o objetivo de forçá-lo a retomar o relacionamento depois que ele já havia se afastado.
O depoimento integra uma investigação ampla do Comitê de Supervisão da Câmara sobre a rede criminosa de Epstein e suas conexões com figuras poderosas. Gates veio negar envolvimento, estabelecer distância e enquadrar fotografias e e-mails como evidências da manipulação de Epstein — não de sua própria cumplicidade. Se o comitê encontrou sua versão convincente ainda estava por ser visto.
Bill Gates sat before the House of Representatives on Wednesday to answer questions about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier and convicted sex offender. The Microsoft founder came prepared with a narrow account: he had known Epstein, but briefly, professionally, and only until he realized the man could not deliver on his promises. "I never victimized anyone," Gates said, his language precise and defensive. "I never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct."
The relationship, Gates explained, began in 2011 when people he trusted in his professional and philanthropic work introduced him to Epstein. The initial meetings were short and businesslike, lasting through 2012 and focused on work matters. Then, in 2013 and 2014, the conversations became more substantive. Epstein had assembled a group of potential donors—wealthy individuals interested in significant charitable contributions. Gates attended at least one such gathering, hoping to identify funding sources for his foundation's work. But the meeting disappointed him. No one was genuinely interested. Epstein's promises, Gates said, would never materialize. He told Epstein they would not continue and stopped communicating with him.
Gates acknowledged knowing that Epstein had faced legal trouble before. In 2008, the financier had pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution and soliciting prostitution with a minor. But Gates claimed he did not fully grasp the scope of what Epstein had done. The House Oversight Committee had summoned him because his name appeared in documents released by the Department of Justice—files that detailed Epstein's illegal financial operations, personal conversations, and private photographs with various prominent figures.
Those photographs showed Gates standing beside Epstein, beside Prince Andrew, beside unidentified women. But the most damaging material was an email Epstein had written. In it, the financist suggested that Gates had sought his help concealing a sexually transmitted infection contracted after relations with Russian women. Gates characterized this as a lie embedded in a larger scheme. Epstein, he said, was attempting to use information about his infidelities—mixed with fabrications—to pressure him back into a relationship. It was blackmail dressed as correspondence, a tool to force reconnection after Gates had already walked away.
The testimony formed part of a sweeping investigation by the House Oversight Committee into Epstein's criminal network and his connections to powerful people. Gates had been called because his name was in the files. He came to deny wrongdoing, to establish distance, to explain away the photographs and the email as evidence of Epstein's manipulation rather than his own complicity. Whether the committee found his account convincing remained to be seen. What was clear was that Gates wanted the record to show: the relationship was transactional, it was brief, and he had ended it the moment he understood it would yield nothing of value.
Notable Quotes
I never victimized anyone. I never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct.— Bill Gates, in congressional testimony
Epstein was attempting to use information about my infidelities—along with many lies he added—to pressure me to resume the relationship with him.— Bill Gates, explaining released documents
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why did Gates need to testify at all? What triggered the congressional interest?
His name appeared in documents the Justice Department released about Epstein's operations—financial records, photos, emails. Once your name is in those files, Congress can call you to explain it.
And what was his core defense?
That he knew Epstein only for professional reasons, from 2011 to 2014, and that he ended it when the fundraising didn't work out. He's saying he saw no signs of the crimes.
But there were photographs of them together.
Yes. And an email where Epstein claimed Gates asked for help hiding an infection. Gates says that email was blackmail—Epstein trying to manipulate him back into the relationship after he'd already left.
So Epstein was using leverage.
That's Gates's account. He's saying Epstein mixed real information about his infidelities with outright lies to pressure him. It's a claim that reframes the evidence as proof of Epstein's desperation, not Gates's involvement.
Did Gates acknowledge any wrongdoing at all?
No. He said he never victimized anyone, never witnessed criminal conduct, never visited Epstein's properties. He positioned himself as someone who was briefly used and then extracted himself.
What does the committee do with that?
They have the documents. They have the photos. They have the email. Gates has given his version. Now it's a question of whether his account holds up against what else they find.