Bill Gates acknowledged his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a meeting with his foundation's staff, stating he "took responsibility for his actions." The Gates Foundation confirmed Gates spoke candidly, addressing questions about his relationship with Epstein.
According to reports, Gates apologized to staff, admitting to two affairs with Russian women and reiterating that he "did nothing illicit." He described his decision to spend time with Epstein as a "huge mistake," though he maintained he "never spent any time with victims, the women around him."
Gates told employees he met Epstein in 2011, years after Epstein's guilty plea for soliciting a minor, and continued to meet him through 2014. He admitted to not thoroughly checking Epstein's background, despite being aware of some limitations on Epstein's travel. He also noted his ex-wife's skepticism regarding the association.
A spokesperson for the Gates Foundation stated that the discussion was part of a scheduled town hall, where Gates answered staff questions on various topics, including the Epstein files, AI, and global health. The foundation clarified that while a small number of employees interacted with Epstein based on his claims of mobilizing philanthropic resources, no collaboration was pursued, and no funds were ever created or paid to Epstein.
Gates has not been accused of wrongdoing by any of Epstein's victims. His ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, previously commented on the release of the Epstein files, referring to "painful times in my marriage."