Tech mogul Bill Gates told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee he had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes, despite their years-long relationship after Epstein’s 2008 sex crime conviction.
The prominent philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft, who is sitting for a transcribed interview Wednesday as part of the panel’s ongoing Epstein investigation, also maintained that he was “never interested” in having a personal friendship with Epstein and that he did not reciprocate advances to that end, according to a copy of his opening statement published on his website.
“I never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct,” Gates told lawmakers, according to the prepared remarks. “I never went to his island, his ranch, or his Florida home. I have never victimized anyone.”
While Gates has not been accused of any wrongdoing, he is featured prominently in photos released by Epstein’s state and emails made public by the Justice Department — and he is one of several powerful men who have come under scrutiny for his sustained ties with the late, convicted sex offender.
Gates said he was introduced to Epstein in 2011, when the financier “claimed he could raise billions of dollars for global health from people for whom he provided tax and estate services.”
Although he knew Epstein had legal troubles, Gates said he accepted an introduction “without applying the scrutiny I should have.”
Gates said he cut off ties with Epstein in 2014 when it became clear the donors Epstein promised to deliver would not be making contributions to Gates’ philanthropic work: “I should never have met with Epstein in the first place. Based on what I know now, I understand that even if he had delivered the new donors he promised, it would not have justified associating with him.”
But Gates also said Epstein learned “sensitive information about my personal life, including the fact that I had been unfaithful in my marriage,” and used it “to pressure me to re-engage with 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.”
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