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Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates says he shouldn’t have spent time with sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein.
His ex-wife Melinda French-Gates revealed after their divorce that she had told her husband he should not associate with Epstein, someone she said was “evil personified”.
An uncomfortable Gates, who is in Australia, was asked by ABC 7:30 host Sarah Ferguson whether he regretted maintaining a relationship with the now dead Epstein “against Melinda’s wishes”.
“I will say for over the 100th time, I shouldn’t have had dinners with him,” he answered.
American businessman and philanthropist Bill Gates. Photo / Getty Images
French-Gates told CBS last year that she “did not like that he had meetings with Jeffrey Epstein”.
Jeffrey Epstein. Photo / AP
A New York Times investigation found that Epstein pitched an idea for a charitable fund to JPMorgan officials and an adviser to Gates that included using the tech billionaire’s money.
Gates told The Times in the UK that the dinners were a part of efforts to raise money, however, they “didn’t result in what he purported, and I cut them off”.
“At the time, I didn’t realise that by having those meetings it would be seen as giving him credibility. You’re almost saying, ‘I forgive that type of behaviour,’ or something.
“So clearly the way it’s seen, I made a huge mistake not understanding that.”
Gates and French-Gates have continued their charity work with their foundation despite their divorce.
“I expect we’ll continue to work together. My wife, Melinda, does great work. She is an amazing contributor to the work of the Foundation and it benefits from the skillsets we both bring,” he said.
Epstein was found dead in his New York cell in 2019 while awaiting a sex trafficking trial.
