Warren Buffett said he hasn't spoken with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates since Epstein files in which he was mentioned were released.
The prolific investor, 95, had been friends with Gates for many years and donated over $43 billion to his charitable foundation, but speaking to CNBC he revealed they'd not been in contact since the Epstein files were released.
"I haven’t talked to him at all since the whole thing was unveiled," Buffett said of his lack of connection with Gates since the files were released.
"I don’t want to be in a position where I know things... to be called as a witness."
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He told the outlet that he'd had a good personal relationship with Bill and Melinda Gates over the years, but that 'it doesn’t make sense to do a lot of talking' until the situation 'gets cleared up'.
Buffett said that Epstein had been a 'con man' who worked out the 'weaknesses' of the men he brought into his circle.
He said "Men are going to like sex... and some of them are going to like not paying taxes, and he figured out their weaknesses.
"That guy must have been the con man of all time. He had a way of conning everybody."
The investor also said he was glad Gates never invited him to New York to meet Epstein, saying 'I got him to thank for not doing that' but also that 'you can’t get away from what happened either'.
Gates, who had been friends with Epstein, accepted an invitation from the House Oversight Committee to testify about his connections with Epstein and a spokesperson said the Microsoft co-founder 'welcomes the opportunity to appear before the Committee'.
"While he never witnessed or participated in any of Epstein’s illegal conduct, he is looking forward to answering all the committee’s questions to support their important work," they said on his behalf.
Gates, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing by Epstein's victims, had said of his association with Epstein: "You know, in retrospect that was a dead end and I was foolish to spend time with him. I was one of many people who regret ever knowing him."
Allegations in the files including emails drafted by Epstein had claimed that Gates contracted an STD from a sexual encounter as a consequence of 'sex with Russian girls'.
A spokesperson for Gates described the claims as 'absolutely absurd and completely false', saying they'd come from a 'proven disgruntled liar'.
Topics: Bill Gates, Jeffrey Epstein, US News
Joe Harker