Gates apologizes for Epstein. The founder of Microsoft admitted to having affairs

Bill Gates apologized to Gates Foundation employees for his connections with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, admitted to mistakes that cast a shadow on the activities of this philanthropic organization and assured that he was not involved in the financier's crimes, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

The billionaire admitted that he had two affairs with Russian women, reported by Epstein.

“Spending time with Epstein was a huge mistake,” the Microsoft founder said. He also considered it a mistake to bring representatives of the Gates Foundation to his meetings. “I apologize to anyone else who is dragged into this because of the mistake I made,” he added.

Gates admitted at a meeting with representatives of the organization that he had two affairs with Russian women, reported by Epstein. He assured that these were not victims of this financier. – I didn't do anything illegal. I didn't see anything illegal, the billionaire assured. “I had affairs: one with a Russian bridge player whom I met at bridge events, and one with a Russian nuclear physicist whom I met through business activities,” he added.

“To be clear, I never spent any time with the victims, the women in his entourage,” he said

Epstein was convicted in 2008 in a Florida state court of sexually abusing minors. In 2019, US federal prosecutors charged him with trafficking minors for sexual exploitation. In the same year he committed suicide in custody.

Gates said he started dating Epstein in 2011. He emphasized that he had not properly checked his background. He noted that he continued to meet with Epstein even despite the concerns of his then-wife, Melinda French Gates.

He said he met Epstein until 2014, flew with him on a private plane, and spent time with him in Germany, France, New York and Washington. “I never stayed overnight,” he assured. He also stated that he was not on his island.

Gates said Epstein “talked about the close relationships he had with many billionaires, especially on Wall Street,” and that he could help raise funds for causes such as global health care.

He emphasized that the presence of other important people at meetings with Epstein gave the impression that “it was a normal situation.” He added that he realizes his relationship with Epstein also helped the sex offender build his reputation.

From Washington Natalia Dziurdzińska (PAP)

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