Bill Gates testified before the US Congress, acknowledging that meetings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were a mistake and potentially damaging to the Gates Foundation’s reputation. He stated he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal activity at the time of their encounters. Gates firmly denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes, asserting he never visited Epstein’s island or harmed anyone. The billionaire emphasized that he did not know about Epstein’s offenses when they met. He maintained the foundation’s work remains unaffected by the association. Gates’ testimony aimed to address scrutiny regarding his past relationship with Epstein and safeguard the foundation’s image.