Recent reports have cast a new light on the extent of Jeffrey Epstein's manipulation, revealing a photograph of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates with one of Epstein's accusers. The image, unearthed by The Wall Street Journal, is said to have been captured by Epstein himself in 2014 at Gates' office in Seattle. This exposure comes several years after Epstein's 2008 conviction for sex offenses.
In the photo, Gates appears next to a Polish model in her 20s, who had been entangled in Epstein's web of deceit. The woman told the Journal, "I met Epstein months before and he quickly began promising he could help my career with his powerful connections." Her identity is concealed in the published photo.
The Wall Street Journal's report goes on to reveal that this isn't an isolated case. At least three other photographs reportedly show Gates with different Epstein accusers. These images depict various settings, including the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City and Epstein's Upper East Side townhouse.
This pattern of photography is indicative of Epstein's strategy to manipulate his victims using his connections with influential individuals. Brad Edwards and Brittany Henderson, attorneys representing the model and over 150 of Epstein's other accusers, commented on this tactic. Edwards stated, "Without legitimate connections to so many high-powered people, Jeffrey Epstein would not have been able to traffic most of these women after 2008."
The Polish model also recounted her experiences with other high-profile individuals, including director Woody Allen and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, though none of these men have been accused of misconduct by her.
Reflecting on Epstein's manipulative tactics, the model's attorneys, Edwards and Henderson, emphasized the gravity of his actions. "He used the powerful people he was intermingling with to further facilitate his sex trafficking scheme, whether those people knew it or not," Henderson added. "He was using everyone around him to create this façade of legitimacy."
Gates has previously admitted regret over his meetings with Epstein post-2008. A representative for Gates stated, "Epstein tried, unsuccessfully, to connect himself to Mr. Gates by any means possible, including spontaneously bringing in people for photos with Bill, whom Bill did not know or interact with further."
In response to the unfolding scenario, Woody Allen told the Journal, "At no time did he ever request I cast anyone in a movie - and I never did it." This statement was part of Allen's clarification that he was unaware of Epstein's manipulative use of his name.
The case of the Polish and Russian models paints a harrowing picture of Epstein's exploitative network. The Russian model recounted her experience, saying, "There was always something with my body that was not right." Epstein's strategy involved not just photographs but also written thank-you notes and forced positive demeanor from his victims, creating a veneer of consent and gratitude.
The emergence of Gates' photo with an Epstein accuser thus adds another layer to the complex narrative of Epstein's abuse and manipulation, shedding light on the far-reaching implications of his connections with powerful figures.
