WASHINGTON, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates told Congress members that he did not comprehend the degree of Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal conduct when he continued to keep in touch with the late financier over philanthropic work.
In a copy of Gates’ opening statement, the Microsoft co-founder said he never saw Epstein engage in any criminal activity. Gates also said Epstein tried to use information about his affairs to blackmail him. “These affairs had nothing to do with my interactions with Epstein, but they were painful for my family,” Gates said in the statement. Gates said Epstein had attempted to use information about his personal life and what Gates called false claims to spur renewed contact.
The testimony was given in a private hearing to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is looking into how federal authorities have handled investigations and prosecutions of Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. The committee’s inquiry also tackles questions about plea agreements, anti-trafficking enforcement, ethics issues and the release of government records related to the case.
Gates was asked to appear in a transcribed interview in a letter from Committee Chairman James Comer in March requesting an in-person interview.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to a state prostitution-related felony charge in Florida, which he served 13 months in custody for. In 2019, he was charged with sex trafficking minors by federal prosecutors. Epstein denied those allegations and died in jail while awaiting trial later that same year. His death was officially ruled a suicide.
The U.S. Justice Department released documents showing Epstein and Gates met several times after Epstein got out of prison. The record shows that the conversations were about charitable projects and possible philanthropy. The files also contain pictures of Gates with women, whose identities were redacted.
Gates has said he met with Epstein previously and that the meetings were a mistake. He has said their meetings were connected to philanthropy.
A Gates Foundation spokesperson told Reuters in an email that Gates took responsibility for his behaviour at an employee town hall meeting earlier this year. The foundation also said it would conduct an external review of its past dealings with Epstein. The Justice Department also released more records of contact between Epstein and foundation staff.
The congressional investigation comes after the unsealing of millions of pages of government documents about Epstein and those who had ties to him. The documents show links with people in politics, business, finance and academia.
Among those named in the records is President Donald Trump, who has admitted to socialising with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s. The release of the files has intensified scrutiny of government decisions in the case and fuelled debates on transparency and public disclosure.
The House panel has not said when it might conclude its investigation or release additional findings related to Gates’ testimony.
