WASHINGTON, United States, Feb 25, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Bill Gates has admitted 
making a "huge mistake" in associating with Jeffrey Epstein, telling staff at 
his charity foundation that he had affairs with two Russian women but denying 
involvement in the disgraced financier's crimes.

The Microsoft co-founder is among the prominent names appearing in documents 
released by the US Justice Department that revealed close friendships, 
illicit financial dealings and private photos with convicted sex offender 
Epstein.

In a town hall Tuesday with staff at the Gates Foundation, a recording of 
which was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Gates expressed regret that 
his relationship with Epstein had affected the work of his philanthropic 
organization.

"It was a huge mistake to spend time with Epstein" and to also bring Gates 
Foundation executives into meetings with Epstein, he said.

"I apologize to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake 
that I made."

In a draft email among the documents released by the Justice Department, 
Epstein alleged Gates engaged in extramarital affairs, writing that his 
relationship with Gates ranged from "helping Bill to get drugs, in order to 
deal with consequences of sex with russian girls, to facilitating his illicit 
trysts, with married women."

Gates, 70, admitted at the town hall to two affairs.

"I did have affairs, one with a Russian bridge player who met me at bridge 
events, and one with a Russian nuclear physicist who I met through business 
activities," he said.

But he denied any involvement with victims of Epstein, who died in a New York 
jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking underage girls.

"I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit," Gates told the town hall.

The tech titan said his relationship with Epstein began in 2011, three years 
after the financier pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution.

Gates said he knew of an "18-month thing" restricting Epstein's travel but 
didn't check his background.

He said his then-wife Melinda expressed concerns about Epstein in 2013, but 
that he continued the relationship for at least another year.

"Knowing what I know now makes it, you know, a hundred times worse in terms 
of not only his crimes in the past, but now it's clear there was ongoing bad 
behavior," Gates told staff.

The Gates Foundation did not immediately respond to a request from AFP for 
comment on Gates's remarks.