Bill Gates said Epstein tried to use knowledge of his affairs "to pressure me"

Microsoft founder Bill Gates told members of Congress that he believes Jeffrey Epstein sought to leverage Gates' extramarital affairs for influence. Gates testified June 10 for nearly six hours before the House Oversight Committee , which is examining the government's handling of the Epstein case and those with ties to him. A transcript of his testimony, released Tuesday, shows Gates said he became acquainted with Epstein in 2011, three years after Epstein entered a guilty plea in Florida state court for charges including soliciting a minor for prostitution, through an adviser named Boris Nikolic. Gates said he last had contact with Epstein in 2015, four years before Epstein's arrest on federal sex trafficking charges and death in jail . Gates denied knowing about Epstein's ongoing criminal conduct, but acknowledged being aware of Epstein's prior legal issues. He expressed surprise that Epstein appeared to know about two affairs involving young Russian women—a bridge player and a nuclear scientist—and acknowledged that Epstein had at one point requested several thousand dollars in reimbursements related to one of the women. "These affairs had nothing to do with my interactions with Epstein, but they were painful for my family," Gates said. In February, Gates apologized to staff at the Gates Foundation for his ties to Epstein. Gates said he wasn't blackmailed, but told the committee that emails suggest Epstein may have been attempting to move in that direction. …