Pakistan, June 11 -- Bill Gates told members of Congress that he did not fully understand the extent of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes when he met the convicted financier for discussions related to philanthropic initiatives. During his testimony, Gates acknowledged that his association with Epstein was a mistake and said he later regretted maintaining contact with him.

The Microsoft co-founder also stated that he never witnessed any criminal activity involving Epstein during their interactions. However, Gates alleged that Epstein attempted to pressure him by using information about his extramarital affairs, which he described as deeply painful for his family and unrelated to their professional discussions.

The testimony formed part of a broad...