Bill Gates refuses to explain why he went on Jeffrey Epstein’s notorious

BILLIONAIRE Bill Gates is reportedly staying quiet over why he flew on Jeffrey Epstein’s notorious ‘Lolita Express’ plane AFTER the paedo tycoon was released from prison.

It's been reported Epstein met with the Microsoft founder more than once after serving time in jail for soliciting an underage prostitute to discuss ways to increase philanthropic spending.

It's been reported Epstein met with the Microsoft founder Bill Gates after serving time in jail

The alleged discussions happened four years after the millionaire money manager spent 13 months behind bars, reports the New York Post.

Now it has been reported flight records show Gates flew with Epstein from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey to Palm Beach on March 1, 2013.

The flight was said to have been on Epstein's luxury Boeing 727 - dubbed the Lolita Express because it's been claimed it was used as a mid-air sex lair.

The jet's detailed sale prospectus, as seen by The Sun Online, describes the 29-passenger interior as "tailored to enhance the experience during long range travel".

Exactly what happened on the flights where Epstein courted his famous friends and underage girls alike, remains a closely guarded secret.

But recently resurfaced accounts detail wild orgies and padded floors purposely designed for sex mid-flight.

Esptein killed himself in his New York prison cell while awaiting sex trafficking charges

The private jet, informally known ‘Lolita Express’, can seat 29 guests

The luxury Boeing 727 aircraft boasts deluxe furnishings, a spacious galley and an expansive cabin lounge

It's also been alleged Epstein used his plane to fly underage girls between his residences in New York, Palm Beach, New Mexico and the Caribbean island of Little St James.

A representative for Mr Gates has not responded to requests for comment, beyond stating that the once-richest man in the world never had any financial or charitable ties to Epstein, reports DailyMail.com .

Epstein did once say he worked as a financial adviser to Gates , but that claim was later shot down by the Microsoft founder's representative.

A spokesman for Mr Gates also reportedly stated that there were no financial or charitable ties between the two men.

There is absolutely no suggestion Mr Gates was involved in any of Epstein's sordid behaviour.

The SunOnline has also contacted the tech boss's people for comment on today's reports.

The claims come after The Sun revealed how a pilot claimed Prince Andrew also flew on a private jet with Epstein and his alleged 17-year-old sex slave Virginia Roberts.

The allegation, made in court papers, is the first to place Andrew and Roberts on one of Epstein’s plane together.

ROYAL DENIALS

In court testimony David Rodgers, 66, said one trip saw Epstein, Andrew and the then 17-year-old Virginia heading to the US Virgin Islands.

The financier, who killed himself in jail 11 days ago ahead of a trial for sex trafficking minors, had a private island there where he is said to have held orgies involving under-age girls.

Rodgers' legal deposition marks the first time anyone has alleged Andrew and Virginia were on Epstein’s plane at the same time.

Virginia claims Andrew had sex with her when she was a teenager. He has always strenuously denied it.

Rodgers’ claim will increase the pressure on Andrew to now reveal everything he knows about Epstein.

The deposition to Virginia’s lawyers was released in New York 12 days ago.

It is among 2,000 court documents relating to a settled defamation case involving her and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell.

PILOT'S COURT CLAIM

Roberts claimed Maxwell, Epstein’s sometime girlfriend, groomed underage girls for him. That case was later struck out and the claims have never been tested in court.

Rodgers does not allege any wrongdoing by Prince Andrew on the flights.

His testimony says he flew Epstein’s private jet which ferried VIP guests including ex-US President Bill Clinton, model Naomi Campbell and sex-scandal Hollywood star Kevin Spacey.

It also claims Andrew was aboard a number of times, including two flights with Virginia.

He says the Virgin Islands flight took place on 11 April 2001 — with Maxwell also among the guests.

Rodgers’ also claims Andrew was on a flight on 31 March from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Florida.

He says others passengers on the 22-seat Gulfstream jet included Epstein, Maxwell and Virginia.

Royal Court Circular documents show Andrew had engagements in London on March 28 and April 2 — so it is possible he could have been on the Epstein plane.

Prince Andrew was pictured with his arm around 17-year-old Virginia Roberts in 2001, with Epstein's alleged co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell in the background

Prince Andrew was pictured going for a stroll through New York with Jeffrey Epstein in 2011

Virginia Roberts, now Virginia Giuffre, holds a photo of herself taken a year after she claims she was first abused by Epstein

Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein killed himself in jail ahead of a trial for sex trafficking minors. Buckingham Palace refused to further clarify Andrew’s movements over that period. On April 9 Andrew began an official visit to the US — arriving in New York that day.

Flight logs show Virginia flew to New York with Epstein on April 9.

The Prince also flew to Boston for official engagements before returning to New York on April 11. On that day, Rodgers says Andrew flew from New Jersey to the Virgin Islands.

Court Circulars do not state Andrew’s whereabouts for the next few days — but a newspaper report places him “in the Bahamas” by April 15.

Rodgers also claims that on 7 August 2001 Prince Andrew was on the maiden flight of Epstein’s infamous “Lolita Express.”

The Boeing 727, replacing his Gulfstream, had a bed which Epstein allegedly used for orgies.

The Duke did not have any diary events listed for August 2001.

PRESSURE MOUNTS ON DUKE

There are also discrepancies in Rodgers’ testimony. He claims Andrew was on a 4 July 2001 flight from the Virgin Islands to Florida along with Roberts and Epstein.

But the Royal diary shows he was in the UK on that date. Flight logs for the trips do not feature Andrew’s name but the initials AP.

The initials had previously been used for Epstein’s designer Alberto Pinto. Rodgers identifies Andrew in his testimony. The initials AP may have also been used for Epstein’s chef Adam Perry Lang.

Billionaire Epstein, 66, hanged himself in jail on August 10.

The inquiry is now focusing on several alleged co-conspirators, believed to include Maxwell, 57, the daughter of disgraced newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell.

Virginia claims she was held a sex slave by Epstein and trafficked to his friends while a teenager.

A source close to Andrew said: “If law-enforcement agencies or police want to talk to the Duke or any royal they just need to ask.”

Buckingham Palace said: “This evidence statement was submitted in a case in which the Duke was not a party and in which any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors is categorically untrue.