Bill Gates has admitted to making a “huge mistake” by maintaining contacts with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, taking responsibility for his actions in a candid address to Gates Foundation staff.
The apology came during a town hall meeting following the release of US Justice Department documents that referenced Gates. He acknowledged spending time with Epstein and involving foundation executives in meetings, saying he regrets drawing others into the situation.
Gates clarified that his interactions with Epstein were related to philanthropy, including raising funds for global health initiatives, and denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes or contact with victims. He also admitted to two personal affairs but stressed that no illicit activity occurred.
The Gates-Epstein relationship began in 2011, three years after Epstein’s conviction for soliciting a minor, and continued for several years despite warnings from Gates’ then-wife. Gates said that, in hindsight, the ongoing exposure to Epstein’s behavior made his actions far worse.
Justice Department documents show that Gates met with Epstein multiple times post-prison to discuss philanthropic initiatives, with accompanying images showing Gates alongside unidentified women.
No payments were made to Epstein, and he was never employed by the Gates Foundation, which remains one of the world’s largest funders of global health programs. Epstein died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
In light of the revelations, Gates recently withdrew from an AI summit in India.
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