Bill Gates Admits Affairs With Two Russian Women, Says of Epstein: «I did nothing illicit»

Bill Gates addressed mounting scrutiny over his past association with Jeffrey Epstein during a Gates Foundation town hall on February 24, days after he abruptly canceled a scheduled keynote at India's AI Impact Summit on February 19. The cancellation came amid renewed attention to documents released by the Justice Department related to Epstein's criminal investigation. Staff questioned Gates about his relationship with the convicted sex offender and about references to him contained in the so-called Epstein files. According to the foundation, the discussion included direct questions about his past meetings with Epstein and the broader controversy that has resurfaced in recent weeks, prompting Gates to publicly acknowledge personal mistakes while disputing any involvement in illegal conduct.

In a statement following the internal meeting, the Gates Foundation said, «In the townhall, Bill spoke candidly, addressing several questions in detail, and took responsibility for his actions.» The organization confirmed that employees raised concerns about the reputational impact of Gates' prior contacts with Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges involving underage girls. Epstein had previously served 13 months in a Florida jail after pleading guilty in 2008 to state charges of soliciting prostitution from a minor. Gates' meetings with Epstein occurred after that conviction, a timeline that has drawn sustained criticism and raised questions about judgment within philanthropic and corporate circles.

During the town hall, Gates admitted to having had affairs with two Russian women, disclosures that gained renewed visibility after references surfaced in documents connected to Epstein. According to reporting on a recording of the meeting, Gates told staff that the relationships were consensual and not linked to Epstein's criminal activities.

«I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,» Gates said, directly rejecting allegations that he participated in or witnessed wrongdoing. He also acknowledged the consequences of his association with Epstein, stating, «I apologize to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made.» His remarks marked one of his most direct internal acknowledgments of personal conduct tied to the controversy.

Justice Department documents released publicly show that Gates and Epstein met repeatedly to discuss philanthropy and potential charitable initiatives connected to global health and development. The files include references to Epstein attempting to insert himself into Gates' professional affairs, including a 2013 effort to mediate a dispute between Gates and longtime adviser Boris Nikolic. One email described Epstein writing to himself that Gates and his aides were mistreating him despite what he characterized as a close relationship.

The same correspondence referenced a request for antibiotics after Gates contracted a sexually transmitted infection from «Russian girls,» a detail that intensified public scrutiny and fueled questions about the nature of their interactions.

Gates has previously stated that his relationship with Epstein was limited to philanthropic discussions and that meeting him was a serious error in judgment. Images included in the released materials show Gates posing with women whose identities are redacted. According to reporting cited during the town hall, Gates said the photographs were taken at Epstein's request following meetings with his assistants.

«To be clear I never spent any time with victims, the women around him,» Gates told foundation staff. He maintained that he had no knowledge of Epstein's trafficking activities and reiterated that he never observed illegal behavior during their interactions.

The renewed attention has also drawn comments from Melinda French Gates, who divorced Gates in 2021 after 27 years of marriage and left the foundation in 2024. Speaking on NPR's «Wild Card» podcast on February 5, she said, «Whatever questions remain there of what I don't – can't even begin to know all of it – those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband. They need to answer to those things, not me.» The Gates Foundation has stated that it never employed Epstein or made payments to him.

As scrutiny persists, Gates continues to defend his record, acknowledging poor judgment in meeting Epstein while denying any illicit conduct or awareness of criminal activity.

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