Bill Gates ‘deeply sorry’ for Epstein ties in testimony to US politicians

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has denied having “victimised anyone” as he began closed-door testimony to US politicians over his relationship with notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Mr Gates, one of the world’s richest men and a leading philanthropist, appeared before the House Oversight Committee for a transcribed interview about the disgraced financier, who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges involving underage girls.

The panel asked Mr Gates to appear after documents released by the Justice Department raised new questions about his contacts with Epstein, whose network of wealthy and powerful associates has fuelled years of scrutiny and conspiracy theories.

US President Donald Trump, who had a years-long relationship with Epstein, opposed releasing the files, prompting accusations of a cover-up that dogged his first year back in office. But Mr Gates said he supported their release and hoped survivors of Epstein’s crimes would receive justice.

The Epstein files include a 2013 draft email in which the financier appeared to suggest he had helped Mr Gates manage the fallout from extramarital affairs, including by seeking antibiotics after a sexually transmitted infection. Mr Gates has called the email fake and denied the allegations, but he acknowledged that Epstein had learned sensitive information about his personal life, including the fact that he had been unfaithful in his marriage.

Republican congressman Tim Burchett suggested Mr Gates appeared “well-coached” and had revealed little, providing no new names to officials investigating Epstein’s associates. But Robert Garcia, the committee’s top Democrat, said Mr Gates had “provided us with information about other folks that were in Mr Epstein’s orbit.”