Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates discussed his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a Gates Foundation staff meeting this week, with the organization confirming he accepted accountability for his decisions.
According to a foundation representative, Gates openly discussed the matter and provided detailed responses to multiple inquiries during Tuesday’s town hall session.
The tech billionaire’s name appears throughout recently released Justice Department documents related to the investigation of the deceased financier. These records contain email exchanges between Gates and Epstein regarding charitable initiatives, scheduling records showing their meetings, and photographs from shared events.
No criminal allegations have been made against Gates regarding Epstein, and Gates maintains he was unaware of Epstein’s illegal activities. Gates has previously stated their meetings focused on charitable work and his belief that Epstein could assist with fundraising for causes including global health initiatives. “Every minute that I spent with him I regret and I apologize that I did that,” Gates recently told Australia’s 9News.
The renewed focus on Gates’ connection to Epstein intensified after the Justice Department made millions of related documents public last month. This scrutiny led Gates to withdraw from giving the main presentation at New Delhi’s India AI Impact Summit last week “to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities.”
Melinda French Gates, who departed the Gates Foundation in 2024 to pursue her own charitable work through Pivotal Ventures, has stated her former husband needs to address questions about his Epstein connections. Both have acknowledged that his association with Epstein contributed to difficulties in their marriage.
