Gates sought donations from Epstein despite knowledge of crimes

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(The Center Square) - Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, said he used his “limited” relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to procure donations for his charitable organizations.

Gates spoke before the U.S. House Oversight Committee on Wednesday regarding his relationship with Epstein. He apologized for the credibility his relationship with Epstein may have lended in an opening statement posted online Wednesday. 

“I should never have met with Epstein in the first place,” Gates said in an opening statement to lawmakers on the committee. “Based on what I know now, I understand that, even if he had delivered the new donors he promised, it would not have been justified associating with him.”

Gates said he met Epstein in 2011. He said Epstein promised he could secure donors for global health initiatives as part of the Gates Foundation’s work, a charitable organization led by Bill and Melinda Gates.

Gates said he was not aware of the extent of Epstein’s crimes. Epstein first pleaded guility to charges of prostitution with a minor in 2008. Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif.. said Gates made a “horrific judgment call” in soliciting donations from individuals associated with Epstein.

“Gates was aware that Jeffrey Epstein had been convicted, and for a horrific crime, and continued to interact with them to seek money for his foundation, and, I think we would agree, was a horrific judgment call,” Garcia said.

Lawmakers suggested that individuals aiding the philanthropic work of the Gates Foundation impeded Gates’ judgement and lended improper credibility to Epstein. The lawmakers did not provide specific names of individuals in the Gates Foundation who may have contributed to Epstein’s relationship with Gates.

“There were people within the Gates Foundation who worked for Bill Gates who were steering Epstein into his orbit and actually allowed him to have greater credibility than he otherwise should,” Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., said.

Lawmakers across the aisle said Gates was slightly combative throughout the hearing. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., said he anticipated Gates would be slightly hostile to members of the committee.

“Anybody would be that way,” Burchett said. “Let’s be honest – I don’t think he’s that good of a person.”

Gates said he ended his relationship with Epstein in 2014, after realizing he would not receive help from the financier for his charitable organizations.

“No vehicle for charitable giving was ever created and no funds were raised,” Gates wrote. “Our interactions ended in December 2014, four years before new reports in the press and unsealed court documents shed light on the extent of his crimes.”

Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said he is seeking a subpoena for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to testify on the committee’s investigation into Epstein. Blanche previously testified before the Oversight Committee aboutt he U.S. Department of Justice's release of more than 3 million files associated with Epstein.

“The main thing that we have for Blanche is the question on what, if any, documents are left out,” Comer said. 

Garcia and other committee Democrats said they would welcome a hearing with Blanche but called for it to be recorded and on the record.

“We are glad that Chairman Comer has finally agreed to bring in Mr. Blanche, for what we believe needs to be an under oath deposition, videotaped and released to the American public, or better yet, an actual public hearing where the media and the public are invited,” Garcia said.