Bill Gates stood trial during an internet chat where he invited Reddit users to “ask me anything” on Wednesday – only to disregard questions on his connection to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Gates, Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist, answered questions during a Reddit “AMA” wherein he spoke about his favorite rock band (U2), the necessity to fight climate change, taxing the wealthy, his farmland ownership within the US, and the TV shows he enjoyed essentially the most in 2022.
But he wouldn’t raise the new issue of his former relationship with Epstein, the rich financier who hanged himself in a Manhattan prison cell while awaiting a federal trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019.
“Why did you continue to hang around with Jeffrey Epstein after he was convicted of being a pedophile?” A redditor who goes by the “alwaysshazthelinks” handle wrote to Gates.
“And against the recommendation and desires of your then-wife?”
The reference was to Epstein’s earlier conviction in 2008, when he pleaded guilty in a Florida court to soliciting a baby into prostitution and soliciting a prostitute.
Then the asker posted a link to header article“Bill Gates’ ex-wife Melinda says his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is hurting her marriage.”
A Reddit user then asked an extra query: “Why did you donate through Epstein and never publicly through your well-known ‘philanthropic’ foundation?”
Last March said Melinda French Gates Gayle King from “CBS This Morning” that “not one thing, but many things” led to the top of her 27-year marriage to Gates. The divorce was finalized in August 2021.
“I didn’t like that he was dating Jeffrey Epstein, no,” said Melinda French Gates.
“I explained it to him.”
She told King that she met Epstein “exactly once” because she “desired to see who this man was.”
“I regretted it as soon as I walked within the door,” Melinda French Gates told CBS This Morning.
“He was disgusting. He was the personification of evil. My heart breaks for these women.”
Bill Gates gave CBS a press release that read: “Meeting Epstein was a mistake that I deeply regret. It was a major error of judgment.”
Bill Gates, 67, admitted to having “several dinners” with Epstein in early 2010.
He said last May that the meetings were a part of an effort to lift money for the Gates Foundation.
“At the time, I didn’t realize that holding these meetings could be perceived as giving him credibility. You almost say, “I forgive this behavior” or something. Bill Gates told The Times within the UK.
“As clearly as you may see, I made an enormous mistake not understanding it.”
Bill Gates said Epstein allegedly had ties to potential donors to the Gates Foundation’s global health initiatives. But Gates said the dinners “didn’t deliver what it supposedly did, and I cut it off.”
In September 2021, Gates was writhing and twiddling with his ring finger as PBS Newshour host Judy Woodruff questioned him about his dealings with Epstein.
Woodruff asked Gates if he “had several meetings” with Epstein after the latter had already been “found guilty of soliciting minors into prostitution.”
“You know, I dined with him,” Gates replied, fiddling nervously together with his hands and tugging on the ring finger of his left hand.
“I regret doing it,” Gates said.
