Epstein ‘threatened to disclose’ Invoice Gates’s alleged affair with Russian bridge participant

Mila Antonova mentioned enjoying bridge with Invoice Gates in a web-based video – Screengrab

Jeffrey Epstein threatened to show Invoice Gates over an alleged affair he had with a Russian bridge participant in her 20s, in line with reviews within the US.

Convicted paedophile Epstein, who killed himself in jail in 2019, wished Mr Gates to assist a charity he had arrange.

Mr Gates, 67, refused to take action, and Epstein threatened to show the affair except he co-operated, the Wall Road Journal reported.

“Mr Gates met with Epstein solely for philanthropic functions,” a spokeswoman for the Microsoft co-founder mentioned.

“Having failed repeatedly to attract Mr Gates past these issues, Epstein tried unsuccessfully to leverage a previous relationship to threaten Mr Gates.”

She added: “Mr Gates had no monetary dealings with Epstein.”

Gates met Antonova at a bridge event

The know-how billionaire was a eager bridge participant, having realized the sport from his mother and father, and he met Mila Antonova, who had based a bridge membership within the Bay Space, at a event in 2010.

She described their encounter in a video. “I didn’t beat him, however I attempted to kick him with my leg,” she recalled.

Ms Antonova then proposed a enterprise through which she would supply on-line bridge classes.

Epstein was seen as a possible investor and he or she was launched to him by Boris Nikolic, a Gates confidant and prime science adviser.

Finally Epstein declined to put money into the mission, BridgePlanet, following their assembly at Epstein’s townhouse in November 2013.

As a substitute, she grew to become a pc programmer, with Epstein selecting up the price of her coaching.

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“Epstein agreed to pay, and he paid on to the college. Nothing was exchanged. I do not know why he did that,” she informed the Journal.

“Once I requested, he mentioned one thing like, he was rich and wished to assist individuals when he may.”

Jeffrey Epstein (centre) in 2011 with, from left: Jes Staley; former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers; Invoice Gates; and Boris Nikolic – The New York Occasions

She has declined to touch upon Mr Gates and added she didn’t know who Epstein was once they met.

“I had no concept that he was a felony or had any ulterior motive. I simply thought he was a profitable businessman and wished to assist.

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“I’m disgusted with Epstein and what he did.”

Having made the introduction to Ms Antonova, Mr Nikolic additionally held discussions with Epstein over his plans to arrange a charitable fund price billions of {dollars} with JPMorgan.

In line with courtroom papers, seen by the Wall Road Journal, Epstein noticed the fund – which required a minimal $100 million donation from people – as a manner of rehabilitating his fame.

However the perceived assist of Mr Gates was essential for the enterprise to succeed.

In his typo-ridden messages to potential backers, Epstein made a lot of Mr Gates’s potential involvement.

“In essence this [fund] will permit Invoice to have entry to greater high quality individuals, funding, allocation, governance with out upsetting both his marriage or the sensitvites of the present basis staff,” Epstein wrote on Aug 16 2011 to 2 prime JPMorgan executives, Jes Staley and Mary Erdoes.

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It was not till 2017 that Epstein made the menace in a letter to Mr Gates asking to be reimbursed for the price of Ms Antonova’s course.

Epstein implied he was prepared to show the affair

Within the letter he implied he knew of the affair and was prepared to show it.

Associates mentioned the amount of cash demanded was not vital, it was the thinly-veiled menace which mattered.

Mr Gates, whose internet price exceeds $100 billion, met Epstein greater than half a dozen occasions.

He was one in all quite a lot of distinguished people who Epstein sought to domesticate as he tried to revive his fame after his preliminary intercourse offences conviction in 2008.

Mr Gates, who was additionally a passenger on Epstein’s personal airplane, has since mentioned his calls and conferences with the disgraced financier had been a mistake.

Mr Nikolic has additionally voiced his disappointment at ever encountering Epstein.

“I deeply remorse that I ever met Epstein,” he mentioned. “His crimes had been despicable. I by no means noticed something like his unlawful behaviour. My coronary heart goes out to his victims and their households.”

He added: “I ought to by no means have related to him – and now I’m grateful that he by no means invested in my endeavours.”

The proposed charitable fund did not materialise.

“The agency didn’t want him as a consumer,” a JPMorgan spokesman mentioned of Epstein. “The agency didn’t want him for introductions. Figuring out what we all know right this moment, we want we had by no means finished enterprise with him.”

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Epstein was first accused of sexually abusing ladies as younger as 14 in 2006. He pleaded responsible in 2008 to soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution.

He was arrested once more on intercourse trafficking expenses in 2019 and was discovered hanging in a jail cell whereas awaiting trial.

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