Bill Gates Apologizes Over Epstein Connections

(MENAFN) Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, apologized to staff at his philanthropic foundation for his connections with Jeffrey Epstein, acknowledging that his judgment errors created negative perceptions of the organization, as stated by reports.

“It was a huge mistake to spend time with Epstein,” Gates said Tuesday during an internal meeting, according to audio obtained by reports. “I apologize to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made.”

Gates revealed that he engaged in extramarital relationships with two Russian women, which Epstein later learned about, though he emphasized that the women were not among Epstein’s abuse victims. Regarding photographs in recently disclosed Epstein documents showing him with women whose faces were obscured, Gates explained that they were snapshots Epstein asked him to pose for alongside the office personnel of the convicted sex offender.

“I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,” Gates said, stressing that he never had contact with Epstein’s victims or the women in his circle.

He noted that he first met Epstein in 2011 and continued to meet with him despite reservations voiced by his then-wife, Melinda French Gates, beginning in 2013. Gates credited her instincts, acknowledging she maintained doubts about the association throughout their relationship.

Gates said his interactions with Epstein continued through 2014, involving air travel and gatherings across multiple countries, including Germany, France, and the US, though he avoided overnight stays and never visited Epstein’s private island.

He added that the presence of other high-profile individuals at these gatherings created an appearance of legitimacy, but acknowledged that his connection, along with recently surfaced correspondence from government records, has harmed the foundation’s reputation and contradicted its core principles.

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