Bill Gates departs following a closed door interview before the House Oversight Committee investigating late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, US, June 10. [Photo/Agencies]
WASHINGTON -- Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates told US Congress on Wednesday that his extramarital affairs "had nothing to do" with his interactions with Jeffrey Epstein and the late financier tried to blackmail him with information about them.
"Based on what has been released in the files, Epstein was working to use information about my infidelities -- in addition to many lies that he layered on top -- to pressure me to re-engage with him," Gates said in a prepared statement before the House Oversight Committee.
Gates said he regretted having any association with Epstein but maintained that he had "never victimized anyone."
"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," Gates said.
