BILL Gates has admitted Jeffrey Epstein knew “painful” details about his private life and tried to use them against him after the billionaire cut off contact with the sex offender.

The Microsoft billionaire told Congress that Epstein became aware he had been unfaithful during his marriage to Melinda Gates.

Gates made the bombshell admission during a closed-door House Oversight Committee hearing on Capitol Hill Wednesday.

“I learned Epstein had become aware of sensitive information about my personal life, including the fact that I had been unfaithful in my marriage,” Gates said in his prepared statement.

“These affairs had nothing to do with my interactions with Epstein, but they were painful for my family.”

Gates denied any wrongdoing and said he never witnessed or had any indication Epstein was engaged in “ongoing criminal conduct.”

But he claimed Epstein tried to use the deeply personal information to pull him back into their relationship after Gates ended contact.

Gates said Epstein used the affairs, “in addition to many lies that he layered on top,” in an effort to pressure him.

“He was unsuccessful in this effort, but it shows some of the ways he tried to leverage his interactions with me to further his agenda,” Gates said.

Gates told the lawmakers that his past meetings with Epstein were a mistake.

“I should never have met with Epstein in the first place,” Gates said in his opening statement.

“At the outset, I want to state very clearly: I never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct,” he said.

“I never went to his island, his ranch, or his Florida home. I have never victimized anyone,” Gates added.

He also said, “While he may have sought to foster a personal relationship, I was never interested in that and never reciprocated.”

He said that, “based on what I know now,” even Epstein delivering new donors to the Gates Foundation “would not have justified associating with him.”

The billionaire told lawmakers he first met Jeffrey Epstein in 2011 after the financier claimed he could help raise billions for global public health work.

Epstein was already a registered sex offender at the time after pleading guilty in Florida in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor.

“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 said.

“I accepted the introduction without applying the scrutiny I should have.”

Gates said his interactions with Epstein were “limited” and that he cut off contact in 2014.

Gates said his meetings with Epstein were tied to the financier’s claims that he could help bring in wealthy donors for the foundation’s global health work.

The Gates Foundation has said no collaboration was pursued, no fund was created, and no money was paid to Epstein.

The foundation has since launched an external review of its past interactions with Epstein and his network.

Gates was hauled before Congress after photos and emails in the Epstein files exposed details about his relationship with the financier.

The Justice Department released more than three million Epstein-related files earlier this year.

The trove included emails and photos referencing Gates and his past meetings with Epstein.

Gates has not been accused of wrongdoing.

But one of the most startling documents included an email draft that alleged Gates contracted a sexually transmitted disease from “Russian girls.”

The message also claimed Gates wanted to give his then-wife Melinda antibiotics secretly.

The email appeared to be a draft Epstein sent to himself, written from the perspective of Bill Gates’ longtime science adviser, Dr Boris Nikolic.

It appeared to concern Nikolic’s resignation from Gates’ charitable foundation and accused the Microsoft billionaire of cutting off their friendship after six years.

“TO add insult to the injury you them implore me to please delete the emails regarding your std, your request that I provide you antibiotics that you can surreptitiously give to Melinda and the description of your penis,” the email said.

In another part of the same draft, Epstein wrote from Nikolic’s perspective that he was “dismayed beyond comprehension” by Gates’ decision to “disregard our friendship developed over the last 6 years.”

The release also included multiple undated images of Gates and Epstein together.

Gates has long denied any impropriety.

A spokesperson for the billionaire told the Daily Mail earlier this year: “These claims are absolutely absurd and completely false.

“The only thing these documents demonstrate is Epstein’s frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame.”

A spokesperson has also said Gates “welcomes the opportunity” to answer the committee’s questions.

Epstein was convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor.

Gates met with Epstein several times in the years after that conviction, according to reports.

The Gates Foundation has said those contacts centered on philanthropic discussions.

The foundation has also said no funding came from Epstein.

Gates has called his decision to meet Epstein a “huge mistake.”

His connection to Epstein has also been linked to painful moments in his marriage to Melinda French Gates.

Melinda, who was married to Gates for 27 years, spoke about the issue during an interview on NPR’s Wild Card podcast in February.

Melinda and Gates divorced in 2021.

“It’s beyond heartbreaking,” she said.

“I remember being those ages those girls were, I remember my daughters being those ages.

“So, for me, it’s personally hard whenever those details come up, right? Because it brings back memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage.”

Melinda, who shares two daughters and a son with Gates, also told CBS she was glad to have moved on.

“I am so happy to be away from all the muck,” she said.

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