'Grave error in judgement': Bill Gates says he regrets meetings with Jeffrey Epstein

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates told a US House panel investigating Jeffrey Epstein that his meetings with the disgraced financier were a 'grave error in judgment', as lawmakers reviewed his past association with the convicted sex offender.In a written opening statement released to reporters, Gates said he 'should never have met with Epstein in the first place' and acknowledged that any contact that may have lent legitimacy to Epstein’s image was deeply regrettable."I see now that he sought to build an image of legitimacy around himself, using connections to reputable and powerful people to deflect scrutiny and attempt to rehabilitate his reputation. If the time I spent with Epstein lent him any credibility, I am deeply sorry," Gats said.Gates also told lawmakers that after he ended contact with Epstein, the financier allegedly used 'sensitive information about my personal life' to pressure him to reconnect, though he said he never saw any evidence of Epstein engaging in ongoing criminal conduct, Bloomberg reported.The House Oversight Committee is investigating Epstein's broader network of connections with powerful figures, following the release of Justice Department files detailing his associations across politics, finance and technology.Lawmakers questioned Gates about meetings held between around 2011 and 2014, years after Epstein had pleaded guilty in Florida to procuring a minor for prostitution. Epstein later died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.Committee members referenced emails, calendar entries and documents suggesting discussions on philanthropy, along with unverified claims made by Epstein about Gates personal and financial matters.Gates told the panel he believed Epstein often 'wrote emails that were untrue' and denied any knowledge of criminal activity linked to him.Gates said he was introduced to Epstein through professional and philanthropic networks and initially engaged with him on global health funding ideas, later ending contact when those proposals did not materialise.He has previously said he never visited Epstein's private island or properties and did not interact with any victims.Lawmakers said Gates appeared voluntarily before the committee, which is examining how Epstein maintained access to influential figures despite his criminal record and earlier conviction.The investigation also forms part of a wider review of possible failures in federal oversight related to Epstein’s activities.Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges involving minors and died in custody the same year. He had earlier pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges involving procurement of a minor for prostitution.The Justice Department has released multiple batches of documents over the past year outlining Epstein’s contacts across elite networks, with all individuals named denying wrongdoing.Gates former wife, Melinda French Gates, has said his association with Epstein contributed to strain in their marriage. Gates has also previously described his dealings with Epstein as a 'huge mistake' and said he regrets ever meeting him.