Washington: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has acknowledged that he had three extramarital affairs during his marriage and alleged that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein attempted to use knowledge of those relationships to exert pressure on him.
According to reports, Gates made the remarks during testimony before U.S. lawmakers as part of an ongoing inquiry related to Epstein and his network of associates. Gates stated that Epstein was aware of certain aspects of his private life and appeared to use that information in an effort to maintain influence and contact with him.
Gates said he believed Epstein considered using the information as leverage, although he did not indicate that any direct blackmail attempt had been successful. He also clarified that the women involved in the affairs had no connection to Epstein’s criminal activities or trafficking network.
During his testimony, Gates reiterated that his association with Epstein had been a serious mistake. He said that when he initially met Epstein, he did not fully understand the extent of the financier’s criminal conduct and later came to regret maintaining contact with him.
Jeffrey Epstein, a financier with ties to numerous high-profile figures, was arrested in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges involving underage girls. He died in a New York jail while awaiting trial. Despite his death, investigations and public scrutiny surrounding his connections to influential individuals have continued.
The latest revelations come amid renewed interest in documents and investigations related to Epstein’s activities and associations, which remain a subject of political and public debate in the United States.