Bill Gates Faces US Lawmakers Over Jeffrey Epstein Ties
L'essentiel
- Bill Gates testified before the House Oversight Committee, addressing his past interactions with Jeffrey Epstein.
- Gates stated he "never victimised anyone" and called his meetings with Epstein a "grave error in judgment."
Résumé généré par IA
Pourquoi c'est important
Bill Gates is being questioned by US lawmakers regarding his association with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in jail. Documents released by the Justice Department prompted new questions about Gates's contacts with Epstein.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said on Wednesday that he “never victimised anyone”, as he faced questioning from US lawmakers over his ties to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Gates, one of the world’s richest men and a leading philanthropist, was appearing before the House Oversight Committee for a transcribed interview about the disgraced financier, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges involving underage girls.
“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 victimised anyone,” Gates said in prepared testimony to the closed-door hearing that was posted on his personal website.
Gates described his meeting with Epstein as “a grave error in judgment” and added, “if the time I spent with Epstein lent him any credibility, I am deeply sorry.”
The panel asked Gates to appear after documents released by the Justice Department raised new questions about his contacts with Epstein.
Several other high-profile figures have also appeared before the committee, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick.
Questions ouvertes
- What was the full extent of Bill Gates's interactions with Jeffrey Epstein?
- Did Gates have any knowledge of Epstein's alleged criminal activities at the time of their meetings?
- What specific documents prompted the renewed questioning of Gates?
- What are the implications for Gates's philanthropic work and public image?
