Bill Gates apologizes to foundation staff over Jeffrey Epstein ties
US tech entrepreneur Bill Gates has apologized to Gates Foundation staff for his past relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while insisting he “did not do anything illegal”, according to media reports.The Microsoft co-founder admitted at a town hall meeting that his relationship with Epstein was a “huge mistake” and said it cast a pall on the charity’s reputation.
Gates tells employees: ‘I didn’t do anything illegal’
“I didn’t do anything illegal. I didn’t see anything illegal,” Gates told employees at a town hall, the Wall Street Journal exclusively reported.“To be clear, I never spent time with the victim, the women around him,” he added, according to the Wall Street Journal.Gates said the recently released “Epstein dossier” photos showing him with women whose faces had been edited were photos Epstein asked him to take after meetings with his aides.The Wall Street Journal quoted him as saying: “I apologize to others who were involved in this matter because of the mistakes I made.”Reuters quoted a spokesman for the Gates Foundation as saying that Gates “spoke candidly, answered several questions in detail, and took responsibility for his actions.”
Meetings continue after Epstein conviction
According to the Wall Street Journal, Gates first met Epstein in 2011, three years before Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting minors for prostitution, and continued to meet with him in 2014.He acknowledged that he did not “properly check” Epstein’s background, even though he was aware of the “18-month matter” that restricted Epstein’s travel.Gates also said he continued to meet with Epstein despite concerns raised by Epstein’s then-wife Melinda French Gates in 2013.“To her credit, she was always skeptical about the Epstein stuff,” he said.The Wall Street Journal reported that Gates flew with Epstein on private jets and spent time with him in Germany, France, New York and Washington, although he said, “I never stayed overnight” or visited Epstein’s island.According to US media reports, Epstein committed suicide in a New York prison in August 2019, a month after he was charged with federal sex trafficking charges.
Relationships with Russian women recognized
At the town hall, Gates also admitted to having two extramarital affairs with Russian women during his marriage.“I did have affairs, one with a Russian bridge player who met me at a bridge tournament and another with a Russian nuclear physicist who I met through business,” he said.He clarified that the incident did not involve Epstein’s victims.Epstein had previously mentioned Gates’ alleged relationship in emails, including one to Gates’ former science and technology adviser Boris Nikolic in July 2013, the New York Post reported, although Nikolic denied writing or requesting that he write some of the emails.
Foundation Reputation and DOJ Documentation
The controversy resurfaced last month after the U.S. Department of Justice released tens of thousands of documents, collectively known as the “Epstein dossier.” The documents, which include emails, interview transcripts, photos and call logs, show Epstein’s connections to various public figures.According to Reuters, U.S. Justice Department documents show that Gates and Epstein met multiple times after Epstein was imprisoned to discuss expanding the Microsoft founder’s philanthropy.The Gates Foundation said earlier this month that it made no financial payments to Epstein and did not employ him at any time.Gates acknowledged that his relationship with Epstein and the newly disclosed emails had a negative impact on the foundation.“This is absolutely contrary to the values and goals of the foundation,” he said. “What we do is very reputation-sensitive. I mean, people can choose to work with us or not work with us.”The Gates Foundation, founded in 2000 by Gates and his then-wife, is one of the largest funders of global health initiatives.While Gates reiterated that he was not involved in any criminal conduct, he also acknowledged that his relationship with Epstein helped the financier “enhance his reputation.”
