Gates Foundation and Bill Gates’ Extensive Meetings with Jeffrey Epstein Revealed in External Review
NEW YORK — An external review by law firm WilmerHale has confirmed that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and its principal, Bill Gates, held approximately 30 meetings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein between 2011 and 2014. These interactions occurred despite significant concerns voiced by foundation employees regarding the potential reputational risks associated with Epstein, who had pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.
Review Uncovers Controversial Ties and Lack of Oversight
The findings, summarized in a three-page report released Tuesday by the Gates Foundation, shed new light on these controversial ties. While the review found no evidence of direct payments from the foundation to Epstein or engagement in illegal activities, the sheer volume and nature of the meetings raise serious questions about judgment and oversight within the philanthropic organization.
Discussions Centered on Public Health Fund and International Peace Institute
The meetings primarily revolved around two initiatives: a proposed public health fund and a grant to the International Peace Institute.
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The Public Health Fund:
Conceptualized by Epstein, this fund aimed to pool charitable investments from wealthy individuals for global health. It ultimately never materialized. Foundation staff reportedly followed up on Gates’ request regarding the legal and tax implications. A December 2014 breakfast at Epstein’s opulent Manhattan townhouse, attended by Gates, foundation staff, and potential donors, concluded with Gates realizing Epstein had “misrepresented” the donors’ willingness to contribute, leading the foundation to abandon the concept.
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International Peace Institute Connection:
Epstein also played a direct role in connecting the foundation with the International Peace Institute. In 2012, he introduced Bill Gates to Terje Rød-Larsen, then president of the institute. The Gates Foundation subsequently provided a grant to the International Peace Institute in 2013, earmarked for polio eradication efforts. Rød-Larsen later resigned in 2020 amid scrutiny over his own connections to Epstein.
Bill Gates Aware of Epstein’s Past and Staff Concerns
The five-month WilmerHale review detailed that meetings occurred in various locations, including Epstein’s Manhattan residence and even on the Gates Foundation campus. Crucially, the review stated that Bill Gates was aware of Epstein’s sex offense throughout these interactions and was privy to staff concerns regarding their association with the disgraced financier.
Gates’ “Grave Error in Judgment” and Broader Implications
Bill Gates has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein’s abuse of girls, telling a congressional committee last month that his meetings with Epstein were a “grave error in judgment.” His name has appeared in the extensive trove of documents released by the Justice Department as part of its ongoing Epstein probe, which also implicates numerous other powerful figures across technology, finance, politics, and business—all of whom deny involvement in Epstein’s crimes. Epstein himself was federally indicted in July 2019 on charges of sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, before dying by suicide in prison while awaiting trial.
Foundation Implements New Risk Management Measures
In response to the review’s findings, Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman announced that the board has approved new measures aimed at strengthening their vetting processes and overall risk management. “The work we do depends on integrity and earning and maintaining the trust of partners,” Suzman stated in a press release. The foundation declined further comment on the specifics of the review.
Limited Scope of Review and Warren Buffett’s Philanthropic Shift
It is important to note that the WilmerHale review’s scope was limited; it did not include access to Bill Gates’ personal communications or encompass his interactions with Epstein in a personal capacity. This distinction highlights the complexities in fully understanding the extent of the relationship.
This revelation follows recent news that Warren Buffett, a longtime friend and significant donor to the Gates Foundation, omitted the organization from his annual charitable contributions this year. Buffett explained his decision was primarily driven by his belief that his three children are prepared to manage his substantial fortune, rather than being a direct consequence of Gates’ “distasteful” association with Epstein.
