21 May 2023 , 21:14
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Prince Andrew’s paedo pal Jeffrey Epstein reportedly appeared to threaten fellow billionaire Bill Gates over an affair the Microsoft founder allegedly had with a young woman.
US tycoon Mr Gates was married and about 55 when he met the Russian bridge player, Mila Antonova, in around 2010 when she was in her 20s.
Wall Street financier Epstein met her three years later before funding her studies at a software coding school.
Convicted sex offender Epstein emailed Mr Gates in 2017 and asked to be reimbursed for the cost of the course, according to the Wall Street Journal.
It followed Epstein failing to convince Mr Gates to participate in a charitable fund.
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People who have seen the message say the implication behind it was Epstein could reveal the alleged affair if Mr Gates did not keep up an association between the two men.
Gates & Ms Antonova in about 2010 (David Hill)A spokeswoman for Mr Gates said: “He met Epstein solely for philanthropic purposes. Having failed repeatedly to draw Mr Gates beyond these matters, Epstein tried unsuccessfully to leverage a past relationship to threaten Mr Gates.”
Ms Antonova, who declined to comment on Mr Gates, 67, said of Epstein: “I had no idea [at the time] that he was a criminal or had any ulterior motive. I just thought he was a successful businessman and wanted to help.”
She told the Wall Street Journal: “I am disgusted with Epstein and what he did.”
During his friendship with Epstein, Andrew stayed at three of the US sex offender’s properties.
Epstein, centre, at his home with Mr Gates, second from right, in 2011The FBI later seized hundreds of hours of surveillance footage filmed in Epstein’s homes. One of his victims talked about secret cameras at Epstein’s New York mansion where Andrew stayed.
Epstein was found dead in his cell at a jail in the city in 2019 aged 66 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide.
A source told the Mirror: “Epstein kept a treasure trove of information in his safes on his famous friends [as an]... insurance policy.
“It wasn’t just royalty he had over to his place but world leaders and celebs.
“They’ve been left not knowing what his cameras caught. No one was off limits.”
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The source added the revelations about the apparent threat to Mr Gates “will send panic” among Epstein’s pals.