KIRKLAND, Wash. (TND) — Allegations about sexually charged interview questions swirled Thursday from female candidates seeking employment in Microsoft founder Bill Gates' private Kirkland, Wash. office.
Known as Gates Ventures, The Wall Street Journal (Journal) reports the private office of the billionaire tech mogul hired Concentric Advisors to perform pre-screening investigations on applicants wanting a chance to work for Gates.
The third-party screening company was reportedly hired by Gates Ventures to flush out any vulnerability candidates may have to blackmail.
In a written statement to The National Desk (TND), a spokesperson for Bill Gates responded to questions concerning the allegations made by several female jobseekers.
Our hiring process is conducted with the utmost respect for every candidate, with a zero-tolerance policy for all participants, including service providers, who break this principle," informed a spokesperson for Bill Gates to TND.The Journal alleged female applicants were asked highly-sensitive questions about their personal lives during their interviews with Concentric.
Interview questions reportedly ranged from topics surrounding extramarital affairs to pornography preferences. Several women purported they were also asked if they had previously “danced for dollars” or had ever contracted a sexually transmitted disease, according to the Journal.
Concentric Advisors’ website state they work for a variety of clients, including family offices, corporations, law firms and non-profits.
Concentric has an experienced, in-house team of security and intelligence professionals who work with the best domestic and international security resources to provide unrivaled global coverage,” Contentric’s website reads.Contentric’s website also dives into what they define as “pre-employment diligence.”
Through a combination of public records research and interviews, Concentric’s pre-employment diligence and background investigations provide a thorough review of employees, partners, home safe, third-party agents, and others.”Their website further state they use “open-source research” in “conducting background checks and interviews.” According to this resource, candidate interviews are performed by “former CIA or FBI polygraphers” when an employment position “may have access to sensitive information or assets.”
In speaking with a prior Concentric employee that only accepted an interview request under the condition of remaining anonymous due to a prior signed non-disclosure agreement, they provided some inside into the company's relationship with the Gates family.
They [Concentric Advisors] have numerous contracts with the Gates family and their companies. We were initially hired mainly as a personal security firm to protect Bill Gates -- to make direct hires for armed security and drivers," a prior Concentric employee explained to TND. "During my time there, I never saw or heard of any types of questions being alleged of this nature during any interviews."ALSO READ | Jeffrey Epstein tried to blackmail Bill Gates over extramarital affair
The Journal also reported Gates was blackmailed by the late Jeffrey Epstein to the tune of $100 million charitable donation demand after he learned of Gates' alleged affair with a young Russian woman. Gates reportedly never paid the ransom.
Epstein pled guilty to sex crimes in 2008. After being arrested again in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges, Epstein committed suicide in his New York City jail cell.
TND reached out to Contentric Advisors for comment. They did not immediately reply to requests.
This article was updated after publication with responses from Gates Ventures.
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