Epstein files: Bill Gates says disgraced financier planned to blackmail him over extramarital affairs | Today’s news

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates told the House Oversight Committee earlier this month that after he tried to end his relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, he tried to use compromising information about Gates’ extramarital affairs.

According to a transcript of the closed-door meeting released on Tuesday (local time), Epstein used the information to force his way back into Gates’ life but never explicitly threatened him, ABC News reported.

On June 10, Gates appeared before a panel that continues the ongoing investigation into the administration of US President Donald Trump’s handling of the Epstein investigation.

Read also | Bill Gates says meeting with Jeffrey Epstein was a ‘serious error in judgment’

What did Gates say to the House committee?

According to the transcript, the Microsoft co-founder revealed that Epstein used advisers to send him “veiled” threats, appeared to instruct advisers on how to potentially blackmail him, and combined real and fabricated information to gain influence over the software billionaire.

Referring to documents from the Epstein Files released by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in January, Gates said: “I was not blackmailed, but, you know, looking at these emails, you know, it looks like Mr. Epstein’s brainstorming went in that direction.” He went on to say, “It seems that in many cases, at least in the emails to himself, he was rehearsing a bit how he or he was coaching someone else might decide to blackmail me, but none of those messages were ever sent to me.”

He also admitted to having at least three extramarital affairs, although he added that Epstein was not involved with any of these women and that he only learned about them after he and Epstein broke off.

Gates also told lawmakers that his interactions with Epstein were limited to business and that he never witnessed the wealthy financier commit a crime. He went on to say that he did not suspect that the women who traveled with Epstein were victims of sex trafficking. When asked about pictures released in the second tranche by the Justice Department showing Gates with some of Epstein’s victims, he said the financier occasionally asked Gates to be photographed with women Gates said were Epstein’s assistants.

Read also | A hidden figure with close ties to Bill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein

Addressing the lawmakers, he added: “I have never pursued anyone. Even though he may have tried to foster a personal relationship, I was never interested and I never reciprocated.”

Gates’ notes on his meetings with Epstein

The Microsoft co-founder told the jury he first met Epstein in 2011 because he thought his alleged connections to the wealthy could help further the Gates Foundation’s global health work. He added that when they first started dating, he was aware of the convicted sex offender’s “bad reputation stemming from his felony conviction” but continued to see him.

“I was aware that he had a felony conviction,” Gates said. “I knew it was sexual in nature, but no, I don’t think I knew or went into detail, although I probably should have. He further noted that he fully realized the extent of Epstein’s crimes in 2018 after the Miami Herald detailed the financier’s disgraced plea deal with federal prosecutors.

Epstein financially supported Gates’ ex-girlfriend

A Fortune report published in March revealed that Epstein had been financially supporting Gates’ ex-girlfriend for years. The development comes after the Justice Department released the second tranche of the Epstein files. In an April 30, 2018 email Epstein sent to Larry Cohen, Gates’ chief of staff, the former wrote that he had just put up Mila Antonova for a week in one of his Upper East Side apartments. Antonova, a Russian bridge player, told Fortune through her lawyer that she had a relationship with Gates around 2010. She was also mentioned as his lover in other reports. According to reports, Epstein provided her with financial assistance over the years and wanted Gates to be aware of his support.

Read also | DOJ documents show Epstein supported Bill Gates’ alleged ex-girlfriend

Gates’ testimony offered a rare glimpse into how Epstein allegedly tried to use compromising information to manipulate at least one influential public figure. Last year, the Justice Department said it found no credible evidence that the disgraced financier blackmailed prominent figures.