Amid renewed scrutiny following the release of the Jeffrey Epstein Files, Bill Gates has acknowledged two past affairs and apologised for his association with Jeffrey Epstein, insisting he “did nothing illicit” and had no contact with any victims linked to the late sex offender.
The revelations surfaced during an internal town hall meeting at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where Gates addressed staff concerns about reports tying him to Epstein.
Gates Acknowledges Affairs, Calls Association ‘Poor Judgment’
A report by The Wall Street Journal stated that Gates admitted to having two relationships with Russian women years earlier — affairs he said were later uncovered by Epstein.
Gates emphasised that these relationships had no connection to Epstein’s victims, adding:
“I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit.”
“To be clear, I never spent any time with victims — the women around him.”
He also conceded that he ignored multiple warnings about Epstein’s background, including concerns raised by Melinda French Gates in 2013, calling the continued meetings a serious lapse in judgment.
Emails From Epstein Files Add Fuel to Controversy
Documents released as part of the ongoing Epstein Files investigation included an email Epstein allegedly wrote to himself, claiming:
- Gates had contracted an STD
- after “sex with Russian girls”
- and asked Epstein for antibiotics to give to his then-wife, Melinda
Gates rejected the claims outright, saying the email was fabricated.
“Jeffrey wrote an email to himself, which was never sent. The email is false… I don’t know what his thinking was.”
‘Every Minute I Spent With Him — I Regret’
Speaking to Australia’s Nine News, Gates expressed personal remorse over maintaining a relationship with Epstein after his initial conviction:
“Every minute I spent with him, I regret… and I apologise for that.”
He added that the renewed attention around the Epstein Files had cast a shadow over the foundation’s work, noting that his mistakes continue to “overshadow” the organisation’s mission.