Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates apologized to employees of the Gates Foundation for his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, admitting that he had two affairs with Russian women that the perpetrator later discovered did not involve Epstein’s victims, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
“I didn’t do anything illegal. I didn’t see anything illegal,” Gates said, according to a recording reviewed by the media.
Gates has been open about his personal life, saying he had two affairs – one with a Russian bridge player he met at bridge events, and one with a Russian nuclear physicist whom Gates “met through business activities”.
The billionaire commented on this at the town hall on Tuesday, February 24.
The largest batch of Epstein files
Gates’ apology at the town hall comes days after the U.S. Justice Department released the largest batch of Jeffrey Epstein files — totaling nearly 3.5 million pages, images and videos — marking the end of a legal review under the Transparency Act.
From US President Donald Trump to Tesla boss Elon Musk and Bill Gates, several names were mentioned in Epstein’s files.
In an email draft among the documents, Epstein claimed that Gates asked one of his advisers to provide him with drugs to treat sexually transmitted diseases – the result of “sex with Russian girls”. According to The New York Post, Epstein likely made the claim on behalf of Gates’ longtime scientific adviser Boris Nikolic, who announced his intention to leave the Gates Foundation.
What Bill Gates said
The Microsoft co-founder said he met Epstein in 2011, years after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution.
Gates reportedly admitted he was aware of some “18-month stuff” and that Epstein faced some travel restrictions, but said he had not fully addressed his background. He continued to see Epstein even after his then-wife Melinda French Gates raised concerns in 2013.
He also said that he continued to see Epstein until 2014, flew with Epstein on a private jet and spent time with him in Germany, France, New York and Washington.
“I never stayed overnight,” or visited Epstein’s island, the WSJ quoted Gates as saying.
Apology to Bill Gates
Gates further admitted that his association with Jeffrey Epstein and the newly released emails from the Department of Justice have cast a shadow over the Gates Foundation and its reputation.
“It was a huge mistake to spend time with Epstein” and bring Gates Foundation executives to meetings with the sex offender, Gates said.
“I apologize to other people who are being dragged into this because of a mistake I made,” Gates said at the town hall, the WSJ reported.
“It’s definitely the opposite of the values of the foundation and the goals of the foundation,” he said.
“And our work is very sensitive to reputation. I mean, people can choose to work with us or work with us,” Gates was quoted as saying by the US daily.
