Bill Gates told 9 News Australia he "regrets every minute" he spent with Jeffrey Epstein and called the relationship "foolish." Gates denied allegations in draft emails released by the DOJ and said the draft message was never sent. He said his meetings from 2011–2014 were limited to dinners about philanthropy and fundraising and denied visiting Epstein's island or having relations arranged by Epstein. The comments come amid renewed scrutiny and remarks from his ex-wife urging answers.
Bill Gates Says He 'Regrets Every Minute' Spent With Jeffrey Epstein, Denies Allegations
Bill Gates (left); Jeffrey Epstein (right)9 News Australia/Youtube; Rick Friedman/Rick Friedman Photography/Corbis via Getty
Bill Gates told 9 News Australia on Feb. 4 that he regrets "every minute" he spent with Jeffrey Epstein and called his association with the disgraced financier "foolish." Gates, 70, addressed recently released U.S. Department of Justice documents and rejected allegations contained in draft emails attributed to Epstein.
Speaking with political editor Charles Croucher, Gates said the draft email in question was never sent and described its contents as false. He said he cannot explain why Epstein would have written such an undelivered message and apologized for having spent time with him.
"Apparently, Jeffrey wrote an email to himself. That email was never sent," Gates told 9 News Australia. "The email is false. I don't know what his thinking was there. Was he trying to attack me in some way? Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologize that I did that."
Gates said he first met Epstein in 2011 and that their contact consisted mostly of dinners through 2014. He characterized their conversations as focused on philanthropy and introductions to wealthy donors, which he now views as a "dead end."
Bill Gates and Jeffrey EpsteinRoy Rochlin/Getty; Neil Rasmus/Patrick McMullan via Getty
Gates also denied other circulating claims, including that he visited Epstein's private island or had sexual relations with women arranged by Epstein. He rejected suggestions that he contracted a sexually transmitted disease he hid from his then-wife, Melinda French Gates.
Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking minors and was found dead in an apparent suicide in August 2019 while awaiting trial at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City.
This interview follows Gates' earlier denials to People and recent comments from his ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, who told NPR that Bill Gates "needs to answer" outstanding questions about his association with Epstein. Melinda said she is relieved to be distanced from the "muck" surrounding those ties.
Reporting sources: 9 News Australia, U.S. Department of Justice documents released Jan. 30, People, NPR.
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