Bill Gates claims Epstein blackmailed him with information about extramarital affairs

Billionaire and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates testified at a closed congressional hearing that Jeffrey Epstein tried to pressure him with information about his personal life, writes The New York Times.

On June 11, Gates testified before the House Oversight Committee. Committee members questioned him about his contacts with Epstein. The hearing was held behind closed doors. The committee is examining the Justice Department's handling of investigations into Epstein and his associates.

A Gates spokesman told reporters in advance the text of his statementThe hearing was expected to take about four hours.

On the subject: Bill Gates admitted he cheated on his wife with Russian women.

In his speech, Gates reiterated his regrets about any association with Epstein, but also stated that he never witnessed him commit any crimes. He emphasized that he "never harmed anyone."

Information about Gates's contacts with Epstein began to emerge shortly after Epstein was arrested by federal authorities on sex trafficking charges in 2019. These revelations damaged Gates's reputation, contributed to the breakdown of his marriage, and led his charitable foundation to initiate an independent review of his ties to Epstein this year.

"In my work, reputation is the foundation for partnerships that save lives. Meeting with Epstein was a serious mistake and put that work at risk," Gates said. "His behavior was completely at odds with everything I do to make the world a place where everyone has a chance at a healthy and productive life."

Gates's contacts with Epstein began in 2011, approximately three years after the financier pleaded guilty in Florida to soliciting a minor for prostitution. This plea was the result of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors that effectively ended the investigation into allegations that Epstein had sexually exploited dozens of underage girls over a long period of time, some as young as 14.

Gates said he should have been more careful about the information he received about Epstein after meeting him in 2011.

"I knew Epstein had problems with the law, but I didn't understand the scale of the crimes he had committed," he said. "I didn't exercise the necessary caution when I agreed to the introduction."

Before 2014, Gates met with Epstein several times. They primarily discussed the possibility of creating a so-called donor-advised fund—a tax-exempt charitable organization. Epstein, among other things, discussed this project with bankers at JPMorgan Chase and expected to receive compensation for his participation. However, the fund was never created, and by the end of 2014, discussions about it had virtually ceased.

Gates said it was only after the relationship ended that he learned that Epstein had tried to use his marital problems to pressure him.

He said Epstein often collected personal information about people he dealt with to imply he had compromising information.

"As the published materials now show, Epstein attempted to exploit information about my infidelity," Gates said in a statement.

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The House committee has already interviewed a number of people close to Epstein, including the 42nd US President Bill Clinton and the owner of a major retail empire, Leslie Wexner.

Also scheduled are interviews with James Staley, a Wall Street executive who served as Epstein's top backer for years at JPMorgan, and billionaire Leon Black, who paid Epstein $170 million for tax and estate advice.

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