The billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has been mired in controversy ever since his name found its way into the infamous Jeffrey Epstein files.
Much of the goodwill and reputation he earned through more than two decades of philanthropic work has taken a massive hit since his association with the controversial Epstein began making the rounds. The latest release of the Epstein files by the United States Department of Justice added fuel to the controversy, with allegations of Gates having affairs with multiple women coming to the fore.
As public scrutiny heated up following the latest revelations, Gates has now decided to address his links to Epstein and spoke about the allegations circulating in media circles.
Bill Gates calls affairs with Russian women “personal mistakes”
During a recent town hall meeting with members of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Microsoft co-founder apologized for spending time with Epstein and involving other foundation members in the meetings.
“It was a huge mistake to spend time with Epstein. I apologize to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made,” he said, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Gates stated that the philanthropic work he did was very “reputation sensitive,” and that having any links with Epstein stood in direct opposition to the “values of the foundation.”
According to the latest Department of Justice release of documents pertaining to the Epstein files, there were several draft emails that Epstein allegedly wrote in connection to Gates. The controversial financier allegedly claimed that he helped Gates obtain drugs to “deal with consequences of sex with Russian girls” and facilitated his “illicit trysts with married women.”
Gates reportedly said Epstein became aware of his affairs, which was how those details later surfaced in the draft emails. Addressing that particular allegation, Gates reportedly told staff that he had two affairs with Russian women in the past. However, they were not connected in any way to Epstein’s criminal activities, according to Gates and called his extramarital actions “personal mistakes.”
Related: Melinda Gates’ Unfiltered Reaction to Epstein Files and Bill Gates’s Association
Furthermore, there were photos of him standing with women whose faces were redacted at their request. Gates clarified that they were taken at Epstein’s request after meetings, and that the women were the controversial financier’s assistants. The billionaire also stated that he did not spend any time with Epstein’s victims or with women who were part of the abuse allegations surrounding the convicted offender.
“I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,” Gates told staff members.
Gates revealed that he met Epstein in 2011 and was aware of his legal troubles that restricted his travel. However, he said he did not conduct a thorough background check at the time. Reportedly, meetings with Epstein continued until 2014, but he never visited his private island or stayed overnight at any of his properties.
Gates further said that the presence of influential individuals around Epstein made the meetings feel “normalized.”
According to multiple media outlets, Melinda French Gates had begun meeting with divorce lawyers as early as 2019 amid concerns about Gates’ ties to Epstein. Melinda announced their decision to divorce in May 2021 after 27 years of marriage, and their separation became final later that year. The shadow of the Epstein files continues to loom over Gates, and it is safe to say they have had far-reaching consequences for both his personal and professional life.
Also Read: Latest Filings Reveal $2 Billion Donation from Bill Gates to Ex-Wife Melinda Gates’s Causes
