Bill Gates 'took responsibility' over Epstein ties, bill gates addressed staff
Bill Gates "took responsibility for his actions" and addressed his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a meeting with staff from his charitable foundation, the organisation said. In that town hall, bill gates "spoke candidly, addressing several questions in detail, " the Gates Foundation added.
Bill Gates' explanation to staff
The Gates Foundation said the meeting was a scheduled town hall with employees, one of the sessions Bill does twice a year. In the conversation, the foundation said, Bill 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. The foundation said that in the town hall, Bill spoke candidly, addressing several questions in detail, and took responsibility for his actions.
Apology and affairs disclosed
The said it reviewed a recording of Gates's remarks and said Gates apologised to staff. The said Gates said he had two affairs with Russian women which Epstein later found out about, and that, in relation to Epstein, he said: "I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit. " Gates is reported to have said it was a "huge mistake to spend time with Epstein" while insisting he "never spent any time with victims, the women around him. " He told staff: "I apologise to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made. "
Timeline of meetings with Epstein
Gates told the foundation's staff he met Epstein in 2011 — years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution — and said he was aware of some "18-month thing" that had limited Epstein's travel, but that he didn't properly check his background. Gates said he continued to meet Epstein through 2014 and spent time with him abroad, adding that he "never stayed overnight" or visited Epstein's island. Gates said Epstein told him he had links with other billionaires and suggested he could help raise money for charitable causes Gates was engaged with.
Images and released files
The said images of Gates with women, whose faces are redacted in the so-called Epstein files, were pictures the late financier asked him to take with his assistants after their meetings. The release of files by the US Department of Justice in January renewed scrutiny of Gates's relationship with Epstein. An image was released by the US House Oversight Committee from the Epstein files in December last year.
Foundation context and family reaction
A spokesperson for the Gates Foundation said: "This was a scheduled town hall with employees, which Bill does twice a year. In the conversation, Bill 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. In the town hall, Bill spoke candidly, addressing several questions in detail, and took responsibility for his actions. "
Gates established his philanthropic organisation alongside his then wife, Melinda French Gates. They divorced in 2021 after 27 years of marriage. In an interview with an NPR podcast earlier this month, Melinda French Gates said the latest release of files dredged up "painful times in my marriage. "
Separate headlines and public standing
A separate headline said "Bill Gates admits affairs with Russians but denies ‘illicit’ behaviour. " Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, 70, has not been accused of wrongdoing by any of Epstein's victims.
The town hall was described by the foundation as a scheduled employee meeting in which Bill Gates answered questions on multiple topics and accepted responsibility for his actions concerning his links to Jeffrey Epstein.
