Wayne Lumbasi
Bill Gates has acknowledged taking responsibility for his past interactions with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation confirmed, amid renewed public scrutiny over the meetings. The Microsoft co-founder addressed the issue during a town hall with foundation staff, discussing the circumstances surrounding his association with Epstein and answering detailed questions from employees.
Documents recently released by the U.S. Department of Justice show Gates met with Epstein multiple times between 2011 and 2014, years after Epstein had served a prison sentence for soliciting a minor for prostitution. Gates said the meetings were intended to discuss philanthropy but admitted that spending time with Epstein after his conviction was a “huge mistake.”
“I apologize to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made,” Gates told staff, according to reports. He emphasized that he “did nothing illicit” and never spent time with Epstein’s victims. Gates also addressed photographs included in the released files showing him with women whose faces were redacted, explaining they were taken at Epstein’s request alongside the financier’s assistants and were unrelated to any wrongdoing.
In addition to discussing Epstein, Gates addressed personal matters during the meeting, acknowledging two extramarital affairs that Epstein later learned about. He clarified that these incidents had no connection to any of Epstein’s victims.
Recent reporting shows that Gates’s interactions with Epstein began in 2011, several years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction, and continued intermittently through 2014. According to the DOJ documents, Gates did not conduct a thorough background check on Epstein, despite knowing of his criminal history. Gates said part of the error in judgment stemmed from Epstein’s claims of connections to wealthy donors who could support philanthropic causes, a rationale Gates now regards with regret.
The release of the Epstein files, a massive tranche of court documents, communications, and redacted photographs has intensified scrutiny of Gates and other high-profile figures linked to Epstein. While inclusion in the files does not imply wrongdoing, it has sparked broader discussions about the ethical responsibilities of public figures in managing their networks and associations.
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