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Bill Gates addressed his controversial association with Jeffrey Epstein during a town hall meeting at the Gates Foundation on Tuesday, according to foundation representatives. The Microsoft co-founder reportedly spoke candidly about the relationship and “took responsibility for his actions” when questioned by staff.
“Bill spoke candidly, addressing several questions in detail,” a Gates Foundation spokesperson said in a statement.
The billionaire philanthropist’s name has appeared in Justice Department documents released as part of its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The files contain evidence of their interactions, including email correspondence about philanthropic projects, calendar entries documenting meetings, and photographs showing Gates at events where Epstein was present.
Gates has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities and maintains that their relationship was strictly focused on philanthropy. He believed Epstein could help him raise funds for global health initiatives and other charitable causes. However, Gates has expressed regret about the association.
“Every minute that I spent with him I regret and I apologize that I did that,” Gates told Australia’s 9News in a recent interview.
The relationship between Gates and Epstein has come under increased scrutiny since last month, when the Justice Department released millions of documents related to its Epstein investigation. The heightened attention has already affected Gates’ public appearances. Last week, he withdrew from delivering the keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, with his team citing a desire “to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities” rather than the Epstein controversy.
The Epstein connection has also had significant personal consequences for Gates. His ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, who recently left the Gates Foundation in 2024 to focus on her own philanthropy through Pivotal Ventures, has stated publicly that her former husband must “answer to those things” regarding his ties to Epstein. Both have acknowledged that Gates’ relationship with Epstein contributed to problems in their marriage, which ended in divorce in 2021 after 27 years.
The Gates Foundation, one of the world’s largest private charitable organizations with an endowment of approximately $70 billion, has continued its global health, education, and poverty reduction work despite the controversy surrounding its co-founder. The foundation has funded initiatives ranging from malaria prevention to agricultural development in developing countries.
Philanthropy experts note that this situation highlights the complex ethical considerations large charitable organizations face when their founders become embroiled in controversy. The Gates Foundation’s influence extends across global health policy, education reform, and international development, making any reputational damage potentially consequential for its ongoing work.
Gates, who has devoted much of his attention to philanthropy since stepping back from day-to-day operations at Microsoft, has been a leading voice on issues including pandemic preparedness, climate change, and artificial intelligence. The Epstein controversy represents a significant challenge to his public image as a global humanitarian leader.
Neither Gates nor the foundation has indicated whether there will be any changes to his role or the organization’s operations as a result of the renewed scrutiny.
The Associated Press, which reported on the town hall meeting, noted that it receives financial support for certain news coverage from both the Gates Foundation and Melinda French Gates’ Pivotal Ventures, though the news organization maintains editorial independence in its reporting.
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11 Comments
Gates’ ties to Epstein are troubling, but I appreciate his willingness to speak openly about it. Continued transparency and accountability will be crucial going forward.
This is a sensitive and complex issue. I appreciate Gates speaking candidly, but there are still many unanswered questions about the nature and extent of his relationship with Epstein.
Absolutely. The public deserves a full accounting of the facts to understand the situation properly.
Interesting that Gates addressed this relationship so directly. While the ties to Epstein are concerning, it’s good to see him take responsibility and try to be transparent about it.
Agreed, but the details of their interactions and Gates’ level of knowledge about Epstein’s criminal activities remain unclear. More transparency would be welcome.
I’m curious to hear more details about the specific nature of Gates’ interactions with Epstein. Taking responsibility is a good first step, but more information is needed.
Agreed, the public should have a clear understanding of what transpired between them and the extent of Gates’ knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities.
Gates’ ties to Epstein are troubling, but it’s good to see him addressing them directly. Hopefully this leads to greater transparency and accountability around this relationship.
While it’s commendable that Gates spoke candidly about his Epstein ties, the public deserves a thorough investigation and accounting of the facts. Transparency is key in situations like this.
This is a concerning situation, but I’m glad to see Gates addressing it directly. Hopefully this leads to a fuller understanding of the relationship and its implications.
Yes, more clarity is needed. It’s important that all the facts come to light, even if they are uncomfortable.