Bill Gates says he deeply regrets all of his contacts with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as their past relationship comes under renewed scrutiny following the release of new US court documents.
Bill Gates faces accusations of extramarital affair as new court documents surface in Epstein investigation. (via REUTERS)Speaking to Australia’s 9News in an interview broadcast Wednesday, the Microsoft co-founder said he wished he had never spent time with Epstein, apologizing for any association with him. “Every minute I spend with him, I regret and I apologize,” he said. His comments came after the US Justice Department released another set of records linked to the Epstein investigation, which included emails referring to several high-profile individuals.
Also Read | Melinda Gates says she feels ‘incredible sadness’ over claims about husband Bill in Epstein file; Elon Musk responded
Among the documents was an unsent draft email in which Epstein made allegations about Gates’ personal life, including claims of an extramarital affair, news agency AFP reported. The email stated that Epstein was “helping Bill obtain drugs, to deal with the consequences of having sex with Russian girls, to facilitate his illicit attempts with married women.”
Gates has vehemently denied the claims, calling the email a lie and saying he did not understand Epstein’s intentions. “That email was never sent. The email is a lie. I don’t know what his thinking was there. Was he trying to attack me in some way?” Gates said, questioning whether Epstein was trying to destroy his reputation.
A spokesman for Gates echoed the denial, noting that the documents reflected Epstein’s anger at not having an ongoing relationship with the billionaire and attempts to discredit him. Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 by suicide while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, had long sought close proximity to influential people.
Also Read | Melinda French Gates reflects on painful marriage as Bill Epstein faces new probe into affair: ‘Happy to be away…’
Melinda French Gates, Gates’ ex-wife, addressed the issue in an interview with US National Public Radio, saying the release of the documents had rekindled painful memories of their marriage. She said unanswered questions remain and those involved, including her ex-husband, will have to resolve them on their own. The couple divorced in 2021.
Also Read | Jeffrey Epstein Emails Show Ex-Advisor to Bill Gates Calls Pune ‘Dirty’, Refuses to Leave Hotel
Gates previously said he met Epstein in 2011 and attended a handful of dinners with him in subsequent years, maintaining that the interactions centered on discussions about potential funding of global health initiatives. He said those efforts ultimately led nowhere and admitted that getting involved with Epstein was a serious mistake.
(with input from AFP)
