Bill Gates testifies before Congress over Epstein ties

Investing.com -- Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates appeared before a House committee on Wednesday for closed-door questioning about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Gates told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that he regrets meeting with Epstein, according to his opening statement posted online.

"I should never have met with Epstein in the first place," Gates stated. "Based on what I know now, I understand that even if he had delivered the new donors he promised" to the Gates Foundation, "it would not have justified associating with him."

Gates denied witnessing any criminal activity. "At the outset, I want to state very clearly: I never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct," he said.

"I never went to his island, his ranch, or his Florida home. I have never victimized anyone," Gates added. "While he may have sought to foster a personal relationship, I was never interested in that and never reciprocated."

Before entering the hearing, Gates told reporters he hoped his testimony would help the committee's work "to find justice for the victims."

The committee has spent months investigating Epstein's network of high-profile associates. Gates testified one day after the committee questioned Lesley Groff, Epstein's former executive assistant.

Representative James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the committee, told reporters Tuesday that Gates was willing to testify and had not resisted the invitation.

Gates became acquainted with Epstein in 2011, according to the Wall Street Journal, three years after Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida state court to soliciting an underage girl for prostitution. Epstein served 13 months in jail for that conviction.

Gates has not been accused of wrongdoing related to Epstein. A full transcript of his testimony is set to be released within several days.

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