Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and one of the greatest philanthropists on the planet, testifies this Wednesday before a US Congressional committee about his past relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The billionaire voluntarily appeared in Washington and expressed his willingness to answer questions about his contact with the convicted financier before the House Oversight Committee.
“I hope that my testimony will contribute to the relevant work of the committee in seeking justice for the victims,” Gates told reporters upon arriving at the hearing room, without giving further statements.
Epstein took his own life in 2019 in a jail cell while awaiting trial. His longtime partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her involvement in the crimes.
The connection between Gates and Epstein once again came into focus after the US Department of Justice recently released more than three million pages of documents from the criminal investigation against the financier. Gates’ name appears thousands of times in these files.
He has always denied any wrongdoing and denies having knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities. However, in a television interview earlier this year, she admitted that she had made a mistake in having a relationship with him.
“I was foolish to waste time with him. I’m one of the many people who regret meeting him,” he said.
Among the documents released by the Department of Justice is a photo that appears to show Gates near an aircraft in the presence of Epstein’s pilot. The Microsoft co-founder confirmed that he flew on the financier’s private jet, a fact that continues to resonate with people affected by the case.
Other images depict him posing with his arm around Epstein and several unidentified women.
The papers also contain drafts of emails allegedly written by Epstein with several unconfirmed and disputed allegations about Gates’ personal life. Among them, the claim that Epstein had arranged “illicit meetings” with “married women” for him, that the billionaire had contracted a sexually transmitted infection from what Epstein called “Russian girls” and that he had received help to obtain medication to treat the problem.
A separate email alleged that Gates had tried to secretly give his then-wife Melinda antibiotics to protect her from the same infection. Gates vehemently rejects these accusations, although he has admitted to having extramarital affairs with two Russian women.
So what are the three main questions the congressional committee should ask Gates?
Why did Gates maintain contact with a man already convicted of sexual crimes?
The main explanation presented by Gates for the association is that it was a relationship focused on philanthropic themes and possible fundraising for his foundation, which did not materialize. It is not clear from their public statements what exactly was the initial factor of rapprochement. According to him, the contact began in 2011, three years after Epstein’s conviction in Florida on two counts of solicitation of prostitution, one of which involved a minor under 18. Communication continued until 2014, a period considered long by some to realize the absence of a useful contribution to the foundation. The committee’s top Democrat, Robert Garcia, highlighted that Gates remained in touch even after serious information about Epstein became public.
Why didn’t Gates look deeper into Epstein’s past?
In February, Gates informed foundation officials that he was aware of an 18-month travel restriction imposed on Epstein, but admitted that he had not adequately checked his background. Parliamentarians must question the verisimilitude of one of the main names in the world of technology and information having remained little attentive to public details about Epstein’s past during the period in which the two lived together.
Did Epstein try to influence Gates, or the other way around?
In the invitation letter for testimony, the committee indicated that Gates may have information about how Epstein and Maxwell sought favors and influence to cover up their illegal activities. On Gates’ side, the stated motivation was to raise funds for global health initiatives. The Gates Foundation reported that, based on Epstein’s promises to mobilize philanthropic resources, some employees interacted with him, but there was no collaboration or transfer of resources. The entity regretted any interaction with Epstein