Controversy surrounding Bill Gates’s past meetings with convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein has resurfaced after new details emerged from recently released U.S. Justice Department documents, prompting the billionaire to publicly acknowledge a mistake in judgment.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Gates made the remarks during a staff town hall meeting on Tuesday, describing his interactions with Epstein as a “huge mistake”. The connection between the two first became publicly known in 2019, and further attention has followed the release of additional U.S. Justice Department documents related to Epstein.
The documents reportedly include correspondence in which Epstein made claims about Gates that the billionaire has denied. They also reference meetings, dinners and conversations between the two, including discussions related to philanthropy. Gates told staff that he regretted taking foundation executives to meet Epstein and apologised for the wider impact of that decision.
Gates said he first met Epstein in 2011 but did not conduct adequate background checks, noting that Epstein had previously pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution. He added that he continued to have contact with Epstein until 2014, including meetings abroad, but stated that he never stayed overnight at Epstein’s residence or visited his private island.
The Microsoft co-founder also acknowledged having had personal relationships outside his marriage but maintained that he did not participate in any criminal activity.
He said the individuals involved were people he met through his own social and professional engagements. Gates concluded by apologising to those affected by the situation, saying he regretted the mistake and its broader consequences.
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