Bill Gates explained how he himself was the target of one of Jeffrey Epstein's schemes as he apologized for any credibility the sex offender could have gained through their relationship during a congressional hearing on Wednesday.
Gates Admits Profound Lapse in Judgment
Though Gates' testimony to the House Oversight Committee was not open to the public, the tech titan published a version of his opening remarks online, in which he admitted that his association with Epstein was a profound lapse in judgment. Gates has not been accused of any wrongdoing associated with Epstein.
In his prepared remarks, Gates maintained that he never witnessed or took part in any of Epstein's criminal conduct while also revealing how the late financier tried to blackmail the Microsoft founder after learning of his extramarital affair.
"I never went to his island, his ranch, or his Florida home. I have never victimized anyone," he stressed at the top of his statement. "While he may have sought to foster a personal relationship, I was never interested in that and never reciprocated."
Philanthropy Led to Meetings
Gates explained how his focus on philanthropy caused him to entertain Epstein's offers for help without applying the scrutiny he said he should have, leading them to meet multiple times from 2011 to 2014 to discuss how to cultivate big-money donors.
But after meeting with a group of what Epstein said were potential donors in 2014, Gates said he realized their conversations were a dead-end and that Epstein would never deliver on his promises.
In hindsight, Gates said he now understands how Epstein sought to build an image of legitimacy around himself, using connections to reputable and powerful people to deflect scrutiny and attempt to rehabilitate his reputation.
"I was so focused on the possibility of raising funds for global health that I allowed that goal to override my better judgment," he admitted, adding how that sobering realization made him aware of how his public stature can be manipulated by people acting in bad faith.
Epstein's Blackmail Attempt
After severing ties at the end of 2014, Gates learned that Epstein had discovered he had been cheating on his wife, philanthropist Melinda Gates, something he stressed had nothing to do with his interactions with Epstein, but they were painful for his family. Gates referred to information available to the public in the Epstein files as he noted how the alleged sex trafficker tried to leverage that information, in addition to lies that he layered on top, to renew their relationship, but in the end was unsuccessful.
"I should never have met with Epstein in the first place," Gates maintained. "Based on what I know now, I understand that even if he had delivered the new donors he promised, it would not have justified associating with him."
The Silicon Valley heavyweight previously addressed his relationship with Epstein after allegations about his personal life came up in a batch of documents released by the Department of Justice earlier this year.
In an interview with Australia's Nine News, Gates called himself one of many people who regret ever knowing Epstein and said that every minute he spent with him, he regrets, and he apologizes for that.
