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Bill Gates says Epstein wanted personal relationship, but he 'never reciprocated'
TL;DR
Bill Gates testified that he never had a personal relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and distanced himself from the convicted sex offender when fundraising efforts failed. He also discussed how Epstein exploited his marital issues to exert pressure.
Key points
- Bill Gates testified he never had a personal relationship with Epstein
- Gates distanced himself from Epstein when fundraising efforts failed
- Epstein allegedly pressured Gates using his marital issues
- Gates named powerful individuals Epstein approached for fundraising
- The committee described Epstein as a 'friend collector'
Mentioned in this story
Bill GatesJeffrey EpsteinHouse Oversight Committee
Billionaire Bill Gates told a congressional committee on Wednesday that he never had a personal relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, and cut ties with the convicted sex offender when he could not deliver on fundraising for the Microsoft founder's philanthropic efforts.
Gates appeared voluntarily in Washington at a closed-door hearing with the House Oversight Committee looking into Epstein and reportedly named powerful people Epstein approached for fundraising.
He also shed light on his marital infidelities, saying Epstein had used them to pressure him.
Panel members said the testimony showed Epstein was a "friend collector" and associated with people like Gates to "project power and influence".
In his opening statement, Gates said he never witnessed Epstein engaged in ongoing criminal conduct, nor had any indication of it.
"I never went to his island, his ranch, or his Florida home. I have never victimized anyone," he said. "While he may have sought to foster a personal relationship, I was never interested in that and never reciprocated."
He also said he hoped "the survivors of Epstein's crimes can get the justice that they deserve".
Gates joins former President Bill Clinton, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and other powerful figures who have been questioned by the bipartisan committee.
Epstein killed himself in a jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial, and his long-time associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, is serving a 20-year prison term. She appeared virtually before the committee in February, but invoked her right to refuse to answer questions.
When the US Department of Justice (DOJ) published millions of pages of documents linked to the criminal investigation of Epstein in January, Gates's name was mentioned thousands of times and he appeared in several photos alongside Epstein.
He has denied any wrongdoing and knowing about Epstein's illegal activity.
In his opening statement, Gates echoed an interview from earlier this year where he said he exercised poor judgement in meeting Epstein and was "one of many people who regret ever knowing him".
One photo released by the DOJ appears to show Gates near an aircraft with Epstein's pilot present. Gates has said he travelled with Epstein on a private jet.
Other documents include draft emails attributed to Epstein, containing a series of unverified and disputed claims about Gates's personal life. These include allegations that Epstein facilitated "illicit trysts" with "married women" for Gates, that Gates had contracted a sexually-transmitted infection (STI) from what Epstein called "Russian girls", and that he "helped Bill get drugs" to treat it.
A separate email alleged Gates sought to "surreptitiously" give his then-wife Melinda antibiotics to protect her from the same infection. Gates denies these claims but has admitted having had affairs with two Russian women.
Q&A
What did Bill Gates say about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein?
Bill Gates stated that he never had a personal relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and cut ties with him when fundraising efforts did not materialize.
What was the purpose of Bill Gates' testimony to the congressional committee?
Gates testified to provide insights into Epstein's connections and fundraising attempts, as well as to clarify his own interactions with Epstein.
How did Epstein allegedly use Bill Gates' marital issues against him?
Gates revealed that Epstein used his marital infidelities to pressure him during their interactions.
What did the House Oversight Committee learn from Gates' testimony?
The committee learned that Epstein was a 'friend collector' who associated with influential individuals like Gates to enhance his power and influence.
