Bill Gates Calls Epstein Meeting ‘a Grave Error’

Washington: Bill Gates said on Wednesday he made a “grave error in judgment” by ever meeting with Jeffrey Epstein as the Microsoft co-founder faced questions behi­nd closed doors from lawmakers about his relationship with the disgraced financier.

In an opening statement, Gates said he “should never have met with Epstein in the first place,” but that he “never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct”.

The tech billionaire became the latest powerful figure linked to Epstein to testify before the House Oversight Committee. As Gates arrived at the Capitol, he noted that he was there voluntarily and said he hoped his testimony would be useful. “I hope my testimony is helpful to the work, the important work, of the committee, to find justice for the victims,” he said.

Committee chairman Republican US Rep James Comer requested Gates testify after he appeared multiple times in a trove of documents released by the Justice Dept as part of its Epstein probe.

Before the interview on Wednesday, Comer told reporters that “no one's accusing Bill Gates of any wrongdoing”. “This is about the survivors" of Epstein and his confidant Ghislaine Maxwell. "This is about trying to figure out how the government failed,” Comer said.

Gates said he was introduced to Epstein through people involved in his professional and philanthropic work and was drawn in by Epstein's claims that he could help raise billions of dollars for global health initiatives. Gates says he ended the relationship in 2014 after concluding Epstein could not deliver on those promises.

Gates added he never went to Epstein’s island or his other properties. “I have never victimised anyone. While he may have sought to foster a personal relationship, I was never interested in that and never reciprocated.”

—AP