Bill Gates has publicly acknowledged past affairs with two Russian women and apologised to employees of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for what he described as a “huge mistake” in maintaining contact with convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Speaking during a town hall meeting with foundation staff on Tuesday, February 24, Gates addressed questions surrounding his past interactions with Epstein and the recent release of U.S. Justice Department documents related to the late financier.
“I Apologise for the Mistake”
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Gates told employees he regretted spending time with Epstein and allowing foundation executives to attend meetings involving him.
“I apologise to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made,” Gates said during the session, as cited by the newspaper.
He reportedly described his association with Epstein as a serious error in judgment.
Affairs Acknowledged, But No Link to Victims
During the discussion, Gates admitted to having had two affairs with Russian women in the past. He noted that Epstein later became aware of those relationships but stressed firmly that the women involved were not connected to Epstein’s criminal activities.
“I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,” Gates told staff, according to the Journal’s account. He also clarified: “To be clear, I never spent any time with victims, the women around him.”
Meetings After Epstein’s Conviction
Previously released documents from the U.S. Department of Justice show that Gates met Epstein multiple times after the financier had already served a prison sentence for sex-related offences. Reports indicate that the meetings focused on philanthropic initiatives and discussions about expanding Gates’ global charitable efforts.
The documents also included photographs of Gates posing with women whose identities were redacted. According to the Journal, Gates explained to staff that the photos were taken at Epstein’s request with his assistants following meetings.
Foundation Responds
A spokesperson for the Gates Foundation confirmed that Gates addressed the matter directly with employees during the town hall.
“In the town hall, Bill spoke candidly, addressing several questions in detail, and took responsibility for his actions,” the spokesperson said, adding that the foundation’s official statement reflects what was shared internally.
Earlier this month, the foundation stated that it never employed Epstein and did not provide him with any financial payments.
Recent Public Scrutiny
The renewed attention comes amid heightened public interest following the release of additional Epstein-related files. Separately, Gates also withdrew from delivering a scheduled keynote address at India’s AI Impact Summit shortly before the event was set to take place. No official reason was publicly detailed for the cancellation.
Gates has previously described his past association with Epstein as an error in judgment. His latest remarks appear to be his most direct acknowledgment yet to foundation staff regarding both his personal conduct and the consequences of his past decisions.
Source: Africa Publicity
