Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Wednesday defended himself against questions from U.S. lawmakers regarding his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, insisting he had "never victimized anyone" as scrutiny over the relationship resurfaced.
Gates, one of the world's richest men and a leading philanthropist, was appearing before the House Oversight Committee for a transcribed interview about the disgraced financier, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges involving underage girls.
"I never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct. I never went to his island, his ranch, or his Florida home. I have never victimized anyone," Gates said in prepared testimony to the closed-door hearing that was posted on his personal website.
Gates described his meeting with Epstein as "a grave error in judgment" and added, "if the time I spent with Epstein lent him any credibility, I am deeply sorry."
The panel asked Gates to appear after documents released by the Justice Department raised new questions about his contacts with Epstein.
