Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has expressed regret to Gates Foundation employees for his previous contacts with convicted sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein, calling it a “huge mistake to spend time with him.”
According to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article, the billionaire businessman gave a speech at a town hall on Tuesday.
Although the relationship between Gates and Epstein was initially made public in October 2019, more information has surfaced after the US Justice Department made its documents about the late financier public.
Among the documents is an email in which Epstein claimed that Gates had contracted a sexually transmitted infection and requested antibiotics to covertly give to his then-wife, Melinda, an allegation Bill Gates has denied.
The documents also detailed the tech mogul’s meetings with Epstein, including dinners, calls, and philanthropy talks.
According to the WSJ investigation, Gates also expressed regret for bringing his foundation executives to meetings with Epstein.
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Gates also admitted to two affairs but stated he did not participate in the convicted sex offender’s crimes. Gates said he met the women through his own social and business activities.
“One of the women was a Russian bridge player who met me at bridge events, and the other a Russian nuclear physicist,” he said.
“I apologize to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made,” Gates said, according to a recording reviewed by the Journal.
Bill Gates admitted to the foundation’s employees that he met Epstein in 2011 but neglected to thoroughly investigate his background. Prior to their encounter, Epstein had entered a guilty plea to enticing a minor for prostitution.
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He claimed to have spent time with Epstein overseas and to have kept up with him through 2014, but he “never stayed overnight” or went to Epstein’s island.
In an interview earlier this month, Melinda said the latest release of files dredged up “painful times” in her marriage.
She added that she was “so happy to be away from all the muck”.
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