Bill Gates addressed his connections to Jeffrey Epstein during a meeting with Gates Foundation employees, taking responsibility for his actions, a spokesperson for the foundation confirmed in a statement on Tuesday. The acknowledgment followed a report by the Wall Street Journal, revealing Gates’ apology to staff regarding his relationship with Epstein.
Public records from the U.S. Department of Justice show that Gates and Epstein had multiple post-prison meetings to discuss expanding philanthropic endeavors. Gates reportedly admitted during the meeting with staff that associating with Epstein and involving Gates Foundation executives in meetings with the convicted sex offender was a significant error.
Gates expressed regret for involving others in the situation, stating, “I apologize to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made,” as reported by the Journal. He disclosed having two affairs with Russian women, which Epstein later uncovered, emphasizing that these relationships did not overlap with Epstein’s criminal activities.
The released DOJ documents included redacted images of Gates alongside unidentified women. Gates clarified that the photos were taken at Epstein’s request with his assistants after their discussions. He reiterated that he never engaged in any inappropriate behavior with Epstein’s victims or the women surrounding Epstein.
During the town hall meeting, Gates openly discussed various topics, including the Epstein files release, with foundation employees. The spokesperson affirmed that Gates took responsibility for his conduct and addressed queries from the staff in detail during the session.
The Gates Foundation reiterated that it had no financial dealings with Epstein and did not employ him. Gates withdrew from the AI Impact Summit in India shortly before his scheduled appearance. Established in 2000 by Bill Gates and his former spouse, the Gates Foundation remains a leading supporter of global health initiatives worldwide.
