GoKawiilMicrosoft co-founder Bill Gates began being questioned on Wednesday morning by a House committee behind closed doors about his controversial friendship with the notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
"I should never have met with Epstein in the first place," Gates told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in his opening statement, according to a copy of it that he posted online.
"Based on what I know now, I understand that even if he had delivered the new donors he promised" to the Gates Foundation, "it would not have justified associating with him," Gates said.
Gates also said in the statement, "At the outset, I want to state very clearly: 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.
"While he may have sought to foster a personal relationship, I was never interested in that and never reciprocated.;
Gates, earlier on Wednesday, told reporters as he arrived, "I hope my testimony is helpful to the important work of the committee to find justice for the victims."
A spokesperson for Gates, in a statement emailed to CNBC, said, "Gates welcomes the opportunity to appear before the Committee. While he never witnessed or participated in any of Epstein's illegal conduct, he is looking forward to answering all the committee's questions to support their important work."
The mega-billionaire is one of the biggest names to submit to a grilling by the committee, which for months has investigated Epstein's network of high-profile friends.
Gates' testimony comes a day after the committee questioned Epstein's former longtime executive assistant, Lesley Groff.
... continue reading