Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was forced to address allegations that Jeffrey Epstein tried to blackmail him – as one of the world’s richest men sat for his first TV interview since the bombshell accusation.

Gates, 70, recently launched a public campaign to raise awareness of the harms AI poses to human life, but it comes as questions continue to swirl over his past relationship with Epstein. The intersection of the two issues arose Wednesday evening on CNN’s “Anderson 360” when host Anderson Cooper veered from AI questions and asked Gates about his relationship with Epstein and whether the late accused sex trafficker had blackmailed him.

“I didn’t have a social relationship; I didn’t meet any women through him,” Gates said. “I had a misguided view that he could facilitate my raising philanthropic funds for global health.”

Gates testified to the House Oversight Committee in June about his relationship with Epstein. He admitted to the panel that he later learned that Epstein was considering using his affairs as blackmail material.

“I didn’t know he was considering blackmailing me. He never did blackmail me. But, you know, just shows how foolish I was to spend time with him,” Gates told Cooper.

It’s been known that Gates and Epstein interacted with one another in the early 2010s, after Epstein had pleaded guilty to charges in Florida stemming from his solicitation of minors. Gates has maintained that while he knew about Epstein’s prior legal matters, he did not understand the extent of Epstein’s crimes.

But the release of the Epstein files has renewed interest in Gates’ relationship with Epstein.

There are numerous references and pictures of Gates in the files, but appearance in the files does not mean someone is guilty of wrongdoing. Gates has denied any part in Epstein’s crime. Other notable officials who also appear in Epstein documents include Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.

Wednesday’s Anderson Cooper’s appearance marked Gates’ first TV appearance since his committee testimony. In other interviews, he has admitted his Epstein connections and personal life have overshadowed his work on AI.

“When I was in the antitrust trial, my promotion of PCs was somewhat reduced,” Gates said in a recent interview with Axios. “As I went through my divorce, my discussion of African health was… somewhat reduced.”

“What I did do, in some ways, was very limited, and it was motivated by my desire to raise money. But… it was a huge mistake,” Gates said of his relationship with Epstein.

Gates said he encourages anyone interested in his testimony about Epstein to read through the transcript, which is available online.