Bill Gates told the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday that meeting with Jeffrey Epstein "was a grave error in judgment" and that he "never victimized anyone," according to his prepared opening remarks reported by ABC News.
Gates appeared in a closed-door setting before the committee, which has been probing the government's handling of its investigations into the late financier and convicted sex offender. It was one of the most high-profile interviews conducted by the panel since it began that inquiry.
"I never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct. I never went to his island, his ranch, or his Florida home. I have never victimized anyone," Gates testified, according to a copy of his prepared opening statement.
Gates told lawmakers he was aware, when he first began engaging with Epstein, that Epstein had a criminal conviction that was sexual in nature. He said he did not know the details of the crimes. Gates also told the committee he was not friends with Epstein and that they did not socialize beyond dinners where Epstein suggested he could help Gates raise money for philanthropic work. Gates said no young women were present at those dinners.
"My interactions with Epstein began with a limited number of preliminary meetings -- three in 2011 and two in 2012 -- during which I talked about the goals of my work," Gates said, according to his statement. "We began more extensive conversations in 2013 and 2014. The discussions focused on identifying potential giving structures, such as donor-advised funds, and how to enroll individuals he claimed were interested in making significant contributions."
Among millions of documents released by the Justice Department this year under the Epstein Transparency Act were draft emails in which Epstein claimed Gates had extramarital affairs that resulted in a sexually transmitted infection, a claim Gates has denied. Gates acknowledged having two extramarital affairs that Epstein later learned about. He told lawmakers he met those women separately from Epstein and that Epstein never offered women to him.
Gates said he does not know exactly when Epstein first learned of the affairs, but he believes his former science advisor Boris Nikolic was the one who informed Epstein about them.
Gates said that Epstein sought to "foster a personal relationship" with him but that his focus remained on using Epstein to recruit new donors for his global health initiative.
