Bill Gates Regrets Epstein Association, Testifies to Congress

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates told a U.S. Congressional committee on Wednesday that he regrets his past association with Jeffrey Epstein. Gates stated he never witnessed or had any indication that Epstein was involved in criminal activities during their interactions.

"I never should have met with Epstein in the first place. In light of what I know now, I understand that even if I had secured the new donors he promised, it would not have justified associating with him," Gates said in initial testimony released on his website. He emphasized that he never visited Epstein's properties and never victimized anyone.

Gates explained that he first met Epstein in 2011 through professional and philanthropic contacts. Epstein had claimed he could raise billions for global health initiatives. Gates' interactions with Epstein were limited, consisting of a few preliminary meetings in 2011 and 2012, followed by more extensive conversations in 2013 and 2014. These contacts ended in December 2014, four years before Epstein's crimes became widely known.

Reflecting on the relationship, Gates noted that Epstein seemed to be building an image of legitimacy by associating with influential people to avoid scrutiny and rehabilitate his reputation. Gates concluded by stating he has learned a significant lesson and is now much more cautious about his associations, even limited ones. He acknowledged the committee's crucial role in clarifying elements of the controversial case.

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Jamás fui a su isla, a su rancho, ni a su residencia en Florida. Nunca he victimizado a nadie. Si bien es posible que él intentara fomentar una relación personal, yo nunca tuve interés en ello, ni correspondí a tales intentos