Gates Addresses Staff Over Past Association With Convicted Sex Offender
Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, publicly addressed his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during an internal town hall meeting with foundation employees, according to a foundation spokesperson. Gates acknowledged that meeting with Epstein — and involving foundation executives in related discussions — was a “huge mistake” and said he “took responsibility for his actions,” the spokesperson told Reuters.
The comments come amid renewed scrutiny following the release of previously unseen documents by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) — often referred to as the Epstein files — that revealed years-old communications and photos involving Epstein and Gates. In response, the Gates Foundation emphasised that Gates spoke “candidly” during the scheduled town hall, addressing questions in detail and reiterating his accountability for past decisions.
A ‘Huge Mistake’: Acknowledging Misjudgement
According to reports, Gates admitted to staff that his interactions with Epstein, which began around 2011, were poorly judged and reflected a lack of proper vetting, especially given Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting minors for prostitution. Gates described the association as the opposite of the foundation’s values and conceded that it had distracted from its mission and affected its reputation.
“I apologise to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made,” Gates reportedly told employees, stressing that Epstein was never employed by the foundation and that no financial transactions took place between them. He reiterated that his engagement with Epstein was motivated by discussions of potential philanthropic collaboration, though such efforts never materialised.
Revelations and Personal Disclosures
At the meeting, Gates also addressed aspects of his personal life that surfaced in the newly released DOJ documentation. He acknowledged having had extramarital relationships with two Russian women during his marriage to Melinda French Gates, asserting that these relationships did not involve Epstein’s victims and that he did not engage in any illicit conduct or witness wrongdoing.
The documents included photos of Gates with unidentified women, which he explained were taken at Epstein’s request with the participation of Epstein’s assistants following meetings about philanthropic issues. Gates emphasised that he never spent time with any of Epstein’s victims, a point he reiterated in statements to staff.
Foundation Response and Reputational Concerns
The Gates Foundation — one of the world’s largest philanthropic organisations, known for its work on global health, education, and poverty reduction — confirmed that the town hall was a scheduled event in which Gates answered a range of employee-submitted questions, including those connected to the Epstein files. A spokesperson said Gates “spoke candidly” and took responsibility for his actions, but did not provide further comment on the report.
Separately, the foundation had earlier stated that it did not make any financial payments to Epstein nor employ him at any time. That statement underscores the organisation’s efforts to distance its work from the controversy and reassure partners and stakeholders about its ethical standards.
Public Scrutiny and Broader Implications
Gates’s town hall remarks and apology come as the release of the DOJ’s Epstein files has reignited public debate over the relationships between influential figures and Epstein prior to his death in 2019. The trove of documents includes a wide array of emails, draft texts and redacted images that have prompted scrutiny of longstanding philanthropists, business leaders and political figures who had contact with Epstein.
Gates also recently withdrew from India’s AI Impact Summit, where he had been scheduled to deliver a keynote speech, amid the renewed attention on his past interactions with Epstein. While he continues to deny any wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, the controversy has underlined how associations — even when framed as attempts to further philanthropic goals — can cast long shadows over public figures and high-profile institutions.
Looking Ahead: Accountability and Philanthropic Integrity
As the Gates Foundation and Bill Gates navigate this moment of reputational challenge, the focus for many observers remains on how leaders with immense influence address past decisions and reinforce ethical standards. Gates’s willingness to address the issue directly with staff and take responsibility for his actions is a notable step, but questions persist about transparency, oversight and how philanthropic organisations manage relationships with controversial figures.
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