Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has expressed regret over his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as newly released documents related to the late financier have renewed public scrutiny of their relationship.
In an interview with Australia’s 9News on Wednesday, Gates dismissed allegations contained in the latest batch of Epstein-linked files, describing them as false and suggesting Epstein may have sought to damage his reputation.
“Apparently, Jeffrey wrote an email to himself. That email was never sent. The email is false,” Gates said.
The renewed controversy follows claims in the documents alleging that Gates concealed a sexually transmitted disease from his former wife, Melinda French Gates, and that Epstein had made assertions about Gates’ private life. Gates’ office strongly rejected the allegations, calling them “absolutely absurd and completely false.”
Epstein, a financier known for his connections to prominent figures in politics, business and entertainment, was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges involving minors. He had previously served a jail sentence in 2008 after pleading guilty to state prostitution-related offences. He died in a New York jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial, though investigations into his activities and associates have continued.
Reflecting on his interactions with Epstein, Gates described the relationship as a mistake in judgement.
“Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologise that I did that,” he said.
Gates confirmed that he met Epstein in 2011 and had dinner with him several times, saying the meetings were aimed at encouraging wealthy individuals to support global health and philanthropic causes. He stressed that he never visited Epstein’s private island and denied any improper relationships linked to Epstein.
“The focus was always that he knew a lot of very rich people, and he was saying he could get them to give money to global health.
“In retrospect, that was a dead end,” Gates added, admitting he was “foolish” to have associated with Epstein.
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