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Gates testifies on Capitol Hill
Bill Gates testified before members of Congress on June 10 in a closed-door, transcribed meeting with the House Oversight Committee about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, arriving on Capitol Hill before 9 a.m.
“Bill Gates tells Oversight panel that meeting with Epstein was a 'grave error in judgment' The Microsoft co-founder is facing questions from the House Oversight Committee”
Gates told reporters, "I'm glad to be here voluntarily to testify to help with the committee's work," and said he hoped his testimony would help the committee "to find justice for the victims."
In his prepared remarks, Gates said Epstein tried to blackmail him with information about Gates' extramarital affairs, and Gates said Epstein was "unsuccessful in this effort."
Gates also told lawmakers he never went to Epstein's island, his ranch, or his Florida home, and he said, "I have never victimized anyone."
Committee probes knowledge and pressure
House Oversight Committee chair James Comer said he was aiming to ask Gates about his involvement with Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and he said, "Hopefully, this interview today will be productive and help us learn more."
Democrats on the committee said Gates admitted he knew about Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution but continued to associate with him, with Rep. Melanie Stansbury saying Gates testified, "He viewed this narrow relationship as being an acceptable means to access wealthy donors."
Gates told the committee he was aware Epstein had faced prior legal issues but that he "did not fully understand the extent of the crimes he committed," and he said he stopped communicating or meeting with Epstein after concluding in 2014 that Epstein "would never deliver on his promises."
Rep. Robert Garcia, the lead Democrat on the committee, said of Epstein during a break, "The theme of blackmail, the theme of using his power and information against others is very common."
What comes next for the probe
The House Oversight Committee said it would release a transcript in the days afterward, and NPR reported the committee interview was not recorded, in contrast to videotaped appearances earlier this year of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
“Bill Gates says Epstein wanted personal relationship, but he 'never reciprocated' Billionaire Bill Gates told a congressional committee on Wednesday that he never had a personal relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, and cut ties with the convicted sex offender when he could not deliver on fundraising for the Microsoft founder's philanthropic efforts”
NPR also reported that the committee has interviewed at least 10 people since the release of Justice Department files, including Bill Clinton and Howard Lutnick, and that the House Oversight and government reform committee is led by Republican James Comer.
Gates' testimony came as the Epstein Transparency Act mandated that the U.S. Justice Department release millions of files related to investigations into Epstein, whose death in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial was ruled a suicide.
Gates told lawmakers he never witnessed or knew about any of Epstein's crimes, while the committee continued pressing questions about what Gates knew and what he did, with ABC News reporting Gates said meeting Epstein "was a grave error in judgment."
