Bill Gates 'took responsibility' over Epstein ties; bill gates apologizes at foundation town hall

bill gates told staff at a foundation town hall that he took responsibility for his actions and apologised for his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, addressing questions about files recently released by the US Department of Justice. The comments, including admissions of affairs and denials of criminal involvement, come as scrutiny of his relationship with Epstein has intensified.

Bill Gates at a scheduled foundation town hall

Gates spoke at a scheduled town hall with employees that he holds twice a year, answering questions submitted by foundation staff on a range of issues. In the session on Tuesday he addressed the release of the Epstein files, the foundation's work in AI and the future of global health, and took responsibility for his actions. Foundation he "spoke candidly, addressing several questions in detail. " A recording of Gates's remarks was reviewed.

Apology, admissions and denials

The Microsoft co-founder apologised to staff and said he had two affairs with Russian women, while insisting he did not participate in Epstein's crimes. He said it was a "huge mistake to spend time with Epstein" and added, "I apologise to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made. " He also said, "I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit. " Gates emphasised that he "never spent any time with victims, the women around him. "

Files, images and allegations in the documents

The release of files by the US Department of Justice in January has renewed scrutiny of his meetings with Epstein. The files included emails in which Epstein wrote that Gates had contracted a sexually transmitted infection and requested antibiotics to give to his then-wife, Melinda; Gates has denied that allegation. The documents also contained images of Gates with women whose faces are redacted, which Gates said were photos Epstein asked him to take with his assistants. An image from the Epstein files was released by the US House Oversight Committee in December last year.

When and how Gates met Epstein

Gates said he first met Epstein in 2011, years after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution. He said he was aware of some "18-month thing" that had limited Epstein's travel but acknowledged that he did not properly check Epstein's background. Gates continued to meet Epstein through 2014 and spent time with him abroad, saying he "never stayed overnight" or visited Epstein's island. He said Epstein talked about having intimate relationships with many billionaires and suggested he could help raise money for charitable causes Gates was engaged with.

Affairs, extortion claims and the personal context

Gates described one affair with a Russian bridge player he met at bridge events and another with a Russian nuclear physicist he met through business activities. The bridge player was named Mila Antonova in materials in the files; Epstein allegedly tried to extort Gates over that alleged affair after failing to persuade Gates to join a multibillion charity fund Epstein sought to establish. The tone of the message, Gates said, was that Epstein knew about the affair and could expose it. Gates also acknowledged that other prestigious figures attended Epstein's meetings, which "made it easier for me to feel like this was a normalized situation. "

Foundation reputation and family fallout

Gates acknowledged the relationship with Epstein was "the opposite of the values of the Foundation and the goals of the Foundation, " and said the foundation's work is reputationally sensitive. The Microsoft co-founder, now 70, has not been accused of wrongdoing by any of Epstein's victims. Gates established the philanthropic organisation alongside his then wife, Melinda French Gates; they divorced in 2021 after 27 years of marriage. In an interview earlier this month, Melinda said the latest release of files had dredged up "painful times in my marriage. "