Bill Gates took responsibility in foundation town hall as Epstein files fuel renewed scrutiny
Bill Gates, 70, told staff at a scheduled town hall that he "took responsibility for his actions" and addressed his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the foundation said. The session came amid renewed scrutiny after releases of documents by the US Department of Justice and other recent disclosures, and Gates apologised to staff while answering questions about the matter and other foundation priorities.
Bill Gates addresses Epstein ties at foundation town hall
The Gates Foundation said the meeting was a regular town hall that the founder holds twice a year and that "Bill spoke candidly, addressing several questions in detail. " In the conversation, Gates answered questions submitted by foundation staff on a range of issues, including the release of the Epstein files, the foundation's work in AI, and the future of global health.
What Gates acknowledged about meetings with Epstein
Gates told staff he first met Epstein in 2011, after Epstein had pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution, and said he continued to meet Epstein through 2014 and spent time with him abroad. He said he was aware of some "18-month thing" that had limited Epstein's travel and that he had not properly checked Epstein's background. Gates said he "never stayed overnight" or visited Epstein's island and insisted he "did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit. "
Details in the released files and Gates' denials
The recent document releases include emails, drafts and photos tied to Epstein's files. The files contain images of Gates with women whose faces are redacted; Gates said those pictures were ones the late financier asked him to take with his assistants after their meetings. The files also include emails in which Epstein wrote that Gates had contracted a sexually transmitted infection and requested antibiotics to give to his then-wife; Gates has denied that allegation. The disclosure of these documents followed a release by the US Department of Justice in January and a separate release of millions of documents last month, which together have heightened attention on the material.
Admissions, apologies and personal fallout
At the town hall Gates apologised to staff, saying he apologises to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that he made. A US newspaper that reviewed a recording of his remarks conveyed that Gates apologised to employees and said it was a "huge mistake to spend time with Epstein. " He also told staff he "never spent any time with victims, the women around him. " Earlier this month, in an interview with an Australian news programme, Gates said, "Every minute that I spent with him I regret and I apologize that I did that. "
Affairs, extortion claims and the effect on his marriage
Gates admitted in the town hall that he had two affairs: one with a Russian bridge player met at bridge events and another with a Russian nuclear physicist met through business activities. The documents and earlier reporting say Epstein later learned of one affair and that Epstein tried to extort Gates over the alleged relationship with the bridge player, Mila Antonova, after failing to persuade Gates to join a multibillion-dollar charity fund Epstein was pitching. The tone of the message was that Epstein knew about the affair and could expose it, per the material in the files.
Gates established his philanthropic organisation alongside his then wife, Melinda French Gates. They divorced in 2021 after 27 years of marriage. Melinda French Gates left the foundation in 2024 to focus on her own philanthropy through Pivotal Ventures and has said he must "answer to those things" when asked about his ties to Epstein. In a podcast interview earlier this month she said the latest release of files dredged up "painful times in my marriage. "
Immediate consequences and what comes next
The disclosures have had immediate ripple effects: Gates pulled out of delivering the keynote address at an India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi last week, saying he did so "to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit's key priorities. " The foundation emphasised that the town hall covered both the Epstein files and core program areas such as AI and global health. The situation remains subject to developing public attention and the impact on the foundation's reputation and partnerships may continue to evolve.
