Bill Gates said Epstein tried to use knowledge of his affairs "to pressure me"

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Microsoft laminitis Bill Gates told members of Congress that helium believes Jeffrey Epstein sought to leverage Gates' extramarital affairs for influence.

Gates testified June 10 for astir six hours earlier the House Oversight Committee, which is examining the government's handling of the Epstein lawsuit and those with ties to him. A transcript of his testimony, released Tuesday, shows Gates said helium became acquainted with Epstein successful 2011, 3 years aft Epstein entered a blameworthy plea successful Florida authorities court for charges including soliciting a insignificant for prostitution, done an advisor named Boris Nikolic. Gates said helium past had interaction with Epstein successful 2015, 4 years earlier Epstein's arrest connected national enactment trafficking charges and death successful jail.

Gates denied knowing astir Epstein's ongoing transgression conduct, but acknowledged being alert of Epstein's anterior ineligible issues. He expressed astonishment that Epstein appeared to cognize astir 2 affairs involving young Russian women—a span subordinate and a atomic scientist—and acknowledged that Epstein had astatine 1 constituent requested respective 1000 dollars successful reimbursements related to 1 of the women.

"These affairs had thing to bash with my interactions with Epstein, but they were achy for my family," Gates said. In February, Gates apologized to unit astatine the Gates Foundation for his ties to Epstein.

Gates said helium wasn't blackmailed, but told the committee that emails suggest Epstein whitethorn person been attempting to determination successful that direction. He besides admitted to a 3rd matter and, successful effect to questions from a legislature staffer, said helium was unaware that Epstein and Nikolic whitethorn primitively person been connected done that woman.

Epstein was progressive successful negotiating an exit bundle for Nikolic; emails amusement helium appeared to beryllium acting arsenic a middleman betwixt the 2 arsenic they negotiated severance.

Gates said successful his opening connection that helium and Epstein discussed "potential giving structures" related to Gates' philanthropic fund, but the discussions "were a dormant end." He called their narration a "grave mistake successful judgment."

Gates denied ever paying Epstein, stating that their conversations chiefly centered connected identifying affluent individuals who could lend to planetary wellness causes.

"As the nationalist tin present spot based connected what has been released successful the files, Epstein was moving to usage accusation astir my infidelities, successful summation to galore lies that helium layered connected top, to unit maine to reengage with him," Gates said. "He was unsuccessful successful this effort."

He said they met successful idiosyncratic astir a twelve times, meetings that included visits to Epstein's New York and Paris homes, and a formation connected Epstein's level from New York to Florida. Gates said they besides had respective video calls.

In a connection released pursuing his testimony, Gates said that helium "appreciated the accidental to conscionable with the House Oversight Committee contiguous and to reply each of their questions. I enactment the merchandise of each the files and anticipation my information contributes to getting justness for the victims."

Gates was 1 of respective billionaires to attest earlier the committee, which besides interviewed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and businessmen Les Wexner. It is expected to interrogation capitalist and Epstein confidant Leon Black aboriginal this week.

Others who are expected to beryllium interviewed successful the adjacent period see erstwhile Goldman Sachs enforcement and Obama White House lawyer Kathy Ruemmler, and Harvard instrumentality professor Alan Dershowitz and erstwhile JPMorgan Chase enforcement Jes Staley.

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