Bill Gates says Jeffrey Epstein tried to use information about his private life as ‘leverage’ | US News

Bill Gates has told US politicians that Jeffrey Epstein attempted to use information about his private life as “leverage” after he ended philanthropy-related discussions with the late paedophile.

The billionaire gave a closed-door interview before the House Oversight Committee in Washington DC on Wednesday about his ties to him.

A number of prominent figures, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, have already given evidence to the committee.

Documents from the Epstein files, released by the US Department of Justice, included email exchanges between Epstein and Mr Gates along with photographs of the Microsoft co-founder at events attended by the financier.

In his opening statement, Mr Gates said: “I want to state very clearly: I never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct.”

Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges, and was found dead in his prison cell in August that year.

Mr Gates, whose charitable foundation fights global poverty, disease and inequity, told the committee that he was introduced to Epstein in 2011 “through people I trusted in my professional and philanthropic work”.

Epstein, according to Mr Gates, told him that he “could raise billions of dollars for global health from people for whom he provided tax and estate services”.

Mr Gates, 70, added: “I recall being aware that Epstein had faced prior legal issues, but I did not fully understand the extent of the crimes he committed. I accepted the introduction without applying the scrutiny I should have.”

After Epstein introduced Mr Gates to a group of potential donors, Mr Gates said he realised the discussions had been a “dead-end”.

He told the committee: “It was clear that no one in the group was interested enough to move forward. I told him we would go no further and stopped communicating or meeting with him.

“Our interactions ended in December 2014, four years before new reports in the press and unsealed court documents shed light on the extent of his crimes.”

Epstein, however, attempted to “re-engage” with Mr Gates after learning of “sensitive information” about his private life.

Mr Gates went on: “I learned Epstein had become aware of sensitive information about my personal life, including the fact that I had been unfaithful in my marriage.

“These affairs had nothing to do with my interactions with Epstein, but they were painful for my family.

“Epstein was working to use information about my infidelities… to pressure me to re-engage with him.

“He was unsuccessful… but it shows some of the ways he tried to leverage his interactions with me to further his agenda.”

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Mr Gates added that meeting Epstein had been a “grave error in judgement”.

He has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and has repeatedly denied any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of girls.

A spokesperson for Mr Gates said: “Gates welcomes the opportunity to appear before the committee.

“While he never witnessed or participated in any of Epstein’s illegal conduct, he is looking forward to answering all the committee’s questions to support their important work.”