Gates Testifies on Epstein Ties

Bill Gates testified before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday regarding his past relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. According to multiple reports, Gates acknowledged meeting Epstein several times between 2011 and 2014 but denied any involvement in illegal activities or knowledge of his crimes.

The committee is investigating high-profile individuals linked to Epstein as part of its ongoing probe into the financier's network. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer invited Gates to testify after his name appeared multiple times across millions of documents released by the federal government as part of its criminal probe against Epstein. Gates' interview was a closed-door session, similar to previous appearances by other individuals involved in the case.

Gates has not been accused of any wrongdoing and denied knowledge about Epstein’s sex crimes against minors. He stated, 'I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit.' A spokesperson for Gates said that he 'welcomes the opportunity to appear before the committee' and is looking forward to answering all the committee’s questions.

Gates apologized in February 2023 to staff at the Gates Foundation for his ties to Epstein, acknowledging that he was aware of Epstein's 2008 conviction but did not adequately check his background. The Gates Foundation announced in April that it had commissioned an external review to assess past engagement with Epstein and current policies for vetting new philanthropic partnerships.

During a February town-hall meeting, Gates acknowledged having two extramarital affairs that Epstein later discovered. He stated that these affairs did not involve any of Epstein's victims and that he never witnessed or participated in illegal conduct. The committee is expected to release a transcript of the interview in the days following.

Before entering the interview, Gates told reporters he hoped his 'testimony is helpful to the important work of the committee to find justice for the victims.' According to The Wall Street Journal, Gates told his staff that women in photos released by Democrats in the House committee were Epstein's assistants and that he did not spend time with Epstein's victims. Two emails from 2013 included in the Justice Department's files were sent by Epstein to himself, one appearing to be a draft of a resignation letter from Boris Nikolic, an adviser to Gates.

In his opening statement provided to The Associated Press, Gates said he 'should never have met with Epstein in the first place,' but that he 'never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct.' Gates added that he never went to Epstein's island or his other infamous properties. He stated, 'I have never victimized anyone. While he may have sought to foster a personal relationship, I was never interested in that and never reciprocated.'

Gates said he was introduced to Epstein through people involved in his professional and philanthropic work and was drawn in by Epstein's claims that he could help raise billions of dollars for global health initiatives. Gates says he ended the relationship in 2014 after concluding Epstein could not deliver on those promises.

Committee Chairman James Comer noted that 'no one's accusing Bill Gates of any wrongdoing.' This is about the survivors' of Epstein and his confidant Ghislaine Maxwell. 'This is about trying to figure out how the government failed,' Comer said.