Bill Gates apologises to foundation staff over Epstein ties amid mounting scrutiny

Bill Gates has apologised to foundation staff over his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein after newly released emails and photos reignited scrutiny, though he denies any wrongdoing.

Tech billionaire Bill Gates has apologised to staff at the Gates Foundation over his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as newly released documents intensify public scrutiny.

During a recent town hall meeting, the Microsoft co-founder addressed employees directly, “taking responsibility for his actions,” according to a statement from the foundation.

“Bill spoke candidly, addressing several questions in detail,” the statement said.

Emails and photos fuel controversy

The renewed controversy follows the release of emails and images as part of the ongoing US Justice Department review of Epstein-related files. The documents reportedly include calendar entries, philanthropic discussions and photos of Gates at events, as well as images with women whose identities were redacted.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Gates told staff:
“I apologise to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made. I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit.”

Gates also reportedly clarified that he never visited Epstein’s private island, never attended parties linked to him and had no involvement in illegal activities.

“To be clear, I never spent any time with victims, the women around him,” he was quoted as saying.

Pressure builds beyond the foundation

The backlash has extended beyond internal discussions. Earlier this month, Gates said in a separate interview that he “regret[s] every minute” spent with Epstein.

His former wife, Melinda French Gates, who departed the Gates Foundation in 2024 to pursue independent philanthropy, has also publicly stated that Gates must “answer to those things” when asked about his past ties.

Amid growing attention, Gates recently withdrew from delivering a keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit, citing a desire to keep focus on the event’s priorities.

Investigation continues

While Gates has denied any wrongdoing, the broader Justice Department review of the Epstein files remains ongoing, keeping the issue in the public eye.

For now, the apology marks Gates’s most direct internal acknowledgment of the controversy — but questions surrounding his past association with Epstein are unlikely to fade soon.