WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Bill Gates told members of Congress on Wednesday that he “did not fully understand ​the extent” of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes when he associated with the late convicted sex offender to raise money for ‌his philanthropic foundation.
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Gates also testified that he never witnessed any criminal conduct from Epstein. He accused Epstein of blackmailing him over his extramarital affairs.
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“These affairs had nothing to do with my interactions with Epstein, but they were painful for my family,” Gates said, according to a copy of his opening statement. “Epstein was working ​to use information about my infidelities — in addition to many lies that he layered on top — to pressure me to re-engage ​with him.”
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Congress has been investigating the US Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein case. The billionaire’s testimony concerned his contacts with the â convicted sex offender who ensnared women and girls from poor or unstable backgrounds.
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The Microsoft Corp co-founder testified privately to the House Oversight and Government ​Reform Committee, which is investigating possible federal mismanagement in the cases against Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell and related issues.
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US Representative James Comer, ​the Republican committee chairman, asked Gates in a March letter to appear for an in-person transcribed interview.
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Gates hired Jake Greenberg, who was the oversight panel’s chief investigative official until December, to help him prepare for the appearance, the New York Times reported on Tuesday. A committee spokesperson told Reuters the panel has not worked ​with Greenberg since his departure.
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Epstein pleaded guilty to a Florida state felony prostitution charge in 2008 and served 13 months in jail.
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Federal prosecutors ​charged him with sex trafficking of minors in 2019. Epstein pleaded not guilty to those charges and died in what was ruled a suicide later that ‌year â before his trial.
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Documents released by the Justice Department this year indicated that Gates and Epstein met repeatedly after Epstein’s 2008 prison term to discuss expanding the tech billionaire’s philanthropic efforts.
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They also included pictures of Gates posing with females whose faces are redacted. Gates has previously said the relationship with Epstein was confined to philanthropy-related discussions and has said it was a mistake to meet with him.
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Gates “took responsibility for his actions” in ​a February town hall meeting with ​employees of the Gates Foundation, â a spokesperson for the philanthropic group told Reuters.
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Gates’ relationship with Epstein has drawn in the Gates Foundation, which said in April it had begun an external review into its engagement with the late financier. Emails released ​in January by the Justice Department also showed communication between Epstein and the Gates Foundation’s staff.
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The ​House committee’s probe includes â authorities’ handling of investigations and prosecutions, plea deals, Epstein’s death, failures to combat sex trafficking, ethics concerns and delays in the release of government files.
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The Justice Department’s release of millions of internal documents related to Epstein revealed his ties to many prominent people in politics, finance, academia and business, including â President Donald ​Trump, who socialized extensively with Epstein in the 1990s and 2000s.
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Former Attorney General Pam ​Bondi, fired by Trump in April, faced sharp criticism for her handling of the case. Some critics accused her of trying to shield Trump from scrutiny.
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Trump opposed releasing the files until ​shortly before Congress overwhelmingly passed a law ordering their release.