Bill Gates says Epstein used personal information to pressure him

Billionaire Bill Gates told members of the US House Oversight Committee that Jeffrey Epstein tried to use information about his personal life, including the fact that he had been unfaithful in his marriage, to pressure him, according to a copy of his keynote speech obtained by CNN.

Gates also stated that he had no knowledge of the crimes committed by the sex offender

"I never witnessed or had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct. I never went to his island, his ranch, or his home in Florida. I never victimized anyone. While he may have tried to cultivate a personal relationship, I was never interested in that and I never reciprocated," Gates said Wednesday, according to his prepared speech.

"I learned that Epstein had learned sensitive information about my personal life, including the fact that I had been unfaithful in my marriage. These instances had nothing to do with my interactions with Epstein, but they were painful for my family," he said.

Gates said he was introduced to Epstein in 2011 and that the late convicted sex offender promised to raise billions of dollars for global health.

"I remember learning that Epstein had faced previous legal problems, but I did not fully understand the extent of the crimes he committed. I accepted the submission without due consideration," he told lawmakers.

Gates characterized his interactions with Epstein as "limited" and testified that they ended completely in December 2014.

"He admitted that he knew of Mr. Epstein's reputation. He admitted that he knew that he [Epstein] had been convicted of sexual crimes, but ultimately, in his words, he considered this restricted relationship an acceptable means of accessing wealthy donors," Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansbury said of Gates' testimony during a break in questioning.

The Microsoft co-founder also alleged in his testimony that Epstein tried to use what he knew about his infidelities - "in addition to many lies he added" - to pressure him to resume contact after the previous relationship ended.

"He was unsuccessful in that attempt, but this demonstrates some of the ways in which he attempted to use my interactions to advance his own interests. I should never have met with Epstein," Gates said, according to his prepared statement.

The meeting with Epstein, he told lawmakers, represented a "serious error of judgment" on his part.

Gates' closed-door testimony comes after the release of Jeffrey Epstein's files this year, which raised questions about his ties to the late convicted sex offender.

Being the commission's 15th interview, Gates' in-person appearance at the Capitol was one of the most important to date before Congressional investigators.

After hours behind closed doors on Wednesday, the Microsoft co-founder left amid a crowd of reporters and protesters. He did not respond to questions shouted by journalists.

Speaking to reporters upon arrival on Wednesday, Gates said he was "happy to be there voluntarily to testify and help with the commission's work," adding that he would begin with an opening statement.

"I hope my testimony will be helpful to the commission's important work in seeking justice for victims," he said.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer told CNN before Gates' testimony that there were no limitations on the scope of interview questions.

"Everything is open," the Kentucky Republican added, noting that while Gates might not be "eager" to testify, he was "willing" to speak.

At one point during the interrogation, however, Gates' lawyer told lawmakers that the billionaire would not answer questions about his extramarital affairs that were not related to the Epstein case, according to a person present in the room.

Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia, the committee's top Democrat, described Gates as "a little combative" during the interview but ultimately "cooperative."

"He's rebutting some things. I think that will be evident in the transcript. But he's answering questions," Garcia said.

Gates is among many powerful figures in Epstein's circle - from Howard Lutnick to Bill Clinton - who have appeared in videos or photos released by the Justice Department from the case files.

Comer told reporters on Wednesday that he plans to call more high-profile figures, including Alan Dershowitz and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, to testify in July.

Gates' relationship with Epstein is under investigation
The oversight panel requested Gates' voluntary cooperation after a batch of released documents revealed a series of graphic and unverified allegations, as well as a more detailed degree of philanthropic coordination between Gates and Epstein than previously known.

As CNN previously reported, the most explosive elements of the previous document release involved two draft emails that Epstein appears to have written in July 2013.

In these stream-of-consciousness notes, riddled with typos and vitriol, Epstein appears to allege that he facilitated sexual encounters for Gates and helped him obtain medication to hide a sexually transmitted infection from his wife.

It is unclear who wrote the 2013 draft messages saved in Epstein's email account or whether they were sent at all, but they are addressed from Epstein to himself. Although the emails suggested, at the time, some kind of rupture in the friendship, the meetings and email exchanges continued during this period.

Epstein claimed in an email that he helped Gates obtain drugs "to deal with the consequences of sex with Russian girls" and "illicit encounters with married women." The email also mentions Gates asking Epstein to provide Adderall for bridge tournaments.

Another draft email alleges that Gates tearfully asked Epstein to delete messages that referenced an STD, "your request that I provide you with antibiotics so you could secretly give them to Melinda" and to delete explicit personal details about his penis.

The allegations contained in the draft email have not been verified or corroborated. There is no indication that the message was shared with Gates or anyone else, and he has not been charged with any criminal offenses related to Epstein.

Gates was asked about the draft emails, including the one referencing an STD, during his closed-door interview, Garcia told reporters. Two sources familiar with Gates' testimony said he disputed the STD claim, and Garcia noted that Gates testified "that he felt Mr. Epstein would write emails to himself and simply say things that weren't true or didn't happen."

Gates, Garcia said, was "very clear that he was never introduced to women, girls or anyone underage by Mr. Epstein; He has made this clear several times, but he will continue to be questioned about these emails."

Gates has previously vehemently denied the allegations and a representative for Gates previously told CNN.

"These accusations are absolutely absurd and completely false," he said.

"The only thing these documents demonstrate is Epstein's frustration at not having an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths to which he would go to trap and defame him," he added.

"While Mr. Gates acknowledges that the meeting with Epstein was a serious error in judgment, he categorically denies any misconduct related to Epstein and the horrific activities in which Epstein was involved. Mr. Gates never visited Epstein's island, never attended parties with him, and had no involvement in illegal activities associated with Epstein."

Gates was asked about the latest documents in an interview with CNN affiliate Nine News in Australia in February.

"Apparently, Jeffrey wrote an email to himself. This email was never sent, the email is fake. So, I don't know what was going on in his head. It just reminds me that I regret every minute I spent with him and I apologize for doing that," Gates said.

"It's factually true that I've only been to dinners, you know? I've never been to the island. I've never met any woman. And so, you know, the more things that come to light, the clearer it will become that even though timing was a mistake, it had nothing to do with this type of behavior," the billionaire added.

Gates has also said he regrets meeting Epstein, telling CNN's Anderson Cooper in 2021: "It was a big mistake to spend time with him, to give him the credibility of being there."

The more than 3 million pages released by the Justice Department contain hundreds of references to Gates, including numerous emails detailing schedules of meetings, meals, proposed phone calls and Epstein's attempts to arrange meetings with Gates.

All documented interactions with Gates occurred after Epstein's 2008 conviction on prostitution-related charges, whether it was a dinner the two shared in 2010 or a rendezvous in Norway in August 2012.

"I really enjoyed breakfast," Gates wrote to Epstein in December 2014.

Epstein responded by saying, in part, "as always, everyone really liked you" and concluded by inviting Gates to his private island, which Gates claims he has never visited. There is no indication that Gates accepted the invitation.

Before Gates' appearance at the Capitol, Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said it was "very concerning" that Gates maintained a relationship with Epstein after the late sex offender's conviction.

"We've already said that we don't care if you're a Republican, a Democrat or whoever you are. The fact that Mr. Gates still maintained contact with Mr. Epstein even after learning of the conviction, even knowing what he had done, is very troubling. So we want to know what Mr. Gates knew, who else was involved in this circle and why Mr. Gates continued to have contact with Mr. Epstein," Garcia said on Tuesday.

Understand what the Jeffrey Epstein case is, a tycoon involved in sexual abuse

Source: CNN