Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, testified before the House Oversight Committee about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, a disgraced financier. Gates said he made a ‘grave error in judgment’ by meeting with Epstein but denied any wrongdoing.

Gates’ Testimony

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. Their relationship began in 2011, three years after Epstein’s guilty plea in Florida, according to the Justice Department files.

Gates said he cut ties in 2014 after concluding Epstein could not deliver on those promises. He added that he never went to Epstein’s island or his other infamous properties. ‘I have never victimized anyone. While he may have sought to foster a personal relationship, I was never interested in that and never reciprocated,’ Gates said.

Lawmakers’ Reaction

Most Democratic members who participated in Wednesday’s questioning described Gates as cooperative. They said some of the most useful information he provided involved other influential people in Epstein’s orbit. Lawmakers also said they pressed Gates on why he continued interacting with Epstein after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor.

Rep. Robert Garcia, the top-ranking Democrat on the committee, described Gates’ actions as ‘a horrific judgment call.’ Before the interview began, Rep. James Comer told reporters that the committee’s effort was ‘about trying to figure out how the government failed.’

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.