--- title: "Bill Gates Offers Bizarre Excuse About Epstein" description: "Bil Gates claimed Jeffrey Epstein had used information about several extramarital affairs he publicly admitted to in February against him." date: "2026-06-11" modified: "2026-06-11" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/future-society/bill-gates-offers-bizarre-excuse-about-epstein" categories: - "Future Society" --- # Bill Gates Offers Bizarre Excuse About Epstein ![A photograph of Bill Gates departing a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill.]() *Kent Nishimura / AFP via Getty Images; Futurism* In 2011 — three years after Jeffrey Epstein plead guilty to charges of soliciting prostitution of a minor — Microsoft founder Bill Gates started communicating with him extensively. The disgraced billionaire and philanthropist is being [grilled by investigators from Congress’ House Oversight Committee]() this week over his ties to the deceased sex criminal, with lawmakers trying to figure out how far their relationship went. As the [*New York Times* reports](), Gates is seemingly pulling out all the stops to rescue his tarnished brand, a fall from grace that's putting his $89 billion global health fund, the Gates Foundation, in jeopardy. On Wednesday, Gates claimed Epstein had used information about [several extramarital affairs Gates publicly admitted to]() in February against him — an eyebrow-raising excuse that could invite renewed scrutiny over his claims. "As the public can now see, based on what has been released in the files, Epstein was working to use information about my infidelities," Gates said in a Wednesday statement released by one of his representatives, as quoted by the *NYT*. It certainly won't erase the fact that Gates isn't exactly the victim here. For one, Gates kept in touch with Epstein for years despite the latter's conviction being widely known to the public. According to the Epstein files, Gates not only had affairs with two different Russian women, but "surreptitiously" tried to give his then wife antibiotics to protect her from a sexually-transmitted infection he had contracted. Epstein was known for finding leverage with his extremely wealthy clients, for instance, threatening to release incriminating documents involving "[gang stuff]()" and [hush money]() related to sexual assault accusations. Epstein also [drafted a 2013 email]() in which he made references to the "morally inappropriate" work he had supposedly done for Gates, from procuring antibiotics to dealing with the "consequences of sex with Russian girls." The controversial relationship likely proved ruinous for Gates' relationship with his now ex wife. He and Melinda French Gates announced they were divorcing in May 2021, roughly two years after Gates' extensive relationship with Epstein first [came to light](). His charitable foundation has also suffered greatly as a result of the fallout, prompting an external review of Gates' ties to the deceased sex offender. "In the work I do, reputation is the basis for developing partnerships that save lives," Gates said in the statement this week. "Meeting with Epstein was a grave error in judgment and put this work at risk." Gates also addressed the fact that he had meetings with Epstein starting in 2011, three years after Epstein's conviction as a sex criminal, and lasting until 2014. "I recall being aware that Epstein had faced prior legal issues, but I did not fully understand the extent of the crimes he committed," Gates claimed in his statement. "I accepted the introduction without applying the scrutiny I should have." **More on Gates:** [*Investigators Questioning Bill Gates Over Ties to Jeffrey Epstein*]() ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()