Bill Gates Admits 'Big Mistake' in Association with Jeffrey Epstein

Kathmandu. Bill Gates has admitted that associating with Jeffrey Epstein was a 'big mistake'.

He told employees of his 'philanthropic organization', "Although he had connections with two Russian women, he was not involved in the crimes of that notorious financier."

The co-founder of Microsoft, whose close friendship, illicit financial transactions, and private photos with convicted sex offender Epstein appeared among the list of prominent names in documents released by the US Department of Justice, is one of them.

The Wall Street Journal confirmed that Gates expressed regret to employees of the Gates Foundation during a town hall on Tuesday that his association with Epstein had affected the work of his philanthropic organization.

"It was a 'big mistake to spend time' with Epstein, and it was also a big mistake to bring Gates Foundation officials to meetings with Epstein," he said.

"I apologize to the other people involved in this because of the mistake I made," he said.

In a draft email among the documents released by the Justice Department, Epstein accused Gates of being involved in an extramarital affair, stating, "His relationship with Gates was up to 'helping Bill obtain drugs, dealing with the consequences of sexual relations with Russian girls, and facilitating his illicit attempts with married women'."

I haven't seen anything illegal

Acknowledging the two incidents at the town hall, the 70-year-old Bill Gates said, "I had contact with a Russian bridge player who met me at bridge events. Similarly, I met another Russian nuclear physicist through business activities."

He denied any involvement with Epstein's victims, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking of minors.

"I didn't do anything illegal. I was not aware of any illegal relationship," Gates told town hall attendees.

The tech mogul Gates said, "My association with Epstein began in 2011, three years after he solicited a minor for prostitution."

Gates stated that he was aware of the '18-month issue' that led to Epstein being banned from travel but did not investigate his background.

He said, "His then-wife Melinda expressed concern about Epstein in 2013, but he continued the relationship for at least another year."

Gates told foundation staff, "What I know now, you also know, the context of his past crimes is not just crime but a hundred times worse behavior."

The Gates Foundation stated, "Mr. Gates addressed the Epstein matter and other issues in the foundation's regular semi-annual program on other matters."

"Bill Gates spoke clearly, answering many questions in the meeting and taking responsibility for his actions," the organization said in a statement given to AFP.