Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates denied “hurting anyone” or knowing about his criminal activities during a closed-door hearing before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday regarding his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. TASR informs about it with reference to the AFP agency.
- Bill Gates has denied any harm to anyone and knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
- Gates says he never visited Epstein’s island, ranch or Florida mansion.
- He met with Epstein between 2011 and 2014 for philanthropic projects.
- According to Gates, Epstein obtained information about his infidelity and tried to blackmail him.
- Gates admits that his contacts may have increased Epstein’s credibility among influential people.
Gates testified as part of an investigation into contacts between Epstein and influential people. The financier died in custody in New York in 2019, where he was awaiting trial on charges of trafficking minors for sexual purposes. The committee subpoenaed Gates after the US Department of Justice released documents raising new questions about his contacts with Epstein.
Gates opening statement
In an opening statement, Gates said he never witnessed or saw any indication that Epstein was involved in any ongoing criminal activity. “I was never on his island, his ranch, his Florida mansion. I never hurt anybody,” Gates said.
He further told committee members that he was introduced to Epstein in 2011 by people he trusted in his philanthropic activities. According to him, Epstein claimed that he could raise billions of dollars for global health projects. Gates admitted that he knew about Epstein’s previous problems with the law, but did not fully understand the extent of the crimes he had committed. He agreed to the contact without checking everything thoroughly.
Contacts with Epstein
According to Gates, their increasingly comprehensive meetings and conversations about charitable activities took place in the years 2011-2014, but did not lead to the creation of any donation mechanism or to obtaining funds. He ended all contact with Epstein in December 2014. “I should never have met Epstein in the first place,” Gates said.
In the so-called Epstein’s files also include a draft of an email from 2013 in which Epstein suggests he was helping Gates deal with the fallout from his extramarital affairs. Gates called the email a fake, but admitted that Epstein obtained sensitive information about his personal life, including the fact that he had been unfaithful, and tried to use it for coercion. “He wasn’t successful in that, but it shows some of the ways he tried to use his connections with me to further his goals,” Gates said.
The influence of Epstein’s contacts
He further stated that he now understands that Epstein tried to build his reputation through contacts with influential people. “If the time I spent with him gave him credibility, I’m very sorry,” Gates said.
Republican Congressman Tim Burchett said after the hearing that Gates appeared “well prepared” but did not say much new or provide new names. Democrat Robert Garcia, on the other hand, said that Gates provided information about other people in Epstein’s circle and his answers were helpful.
Other witnesses
Former US President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary and Commerce Minister Howard Lutnick also testified before the Oversight Committee.
