The Gates Foundation met with Epstein about 30 times despite staff concerns

An external review has confirmed that the Gates Foundation held approximately 30 meetings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein between 2011 and 2014. These findings, released by the law firm WilmerHale on Tuesday, reveal that the interactions persisted despite repeated warnings from foundation staff regarding the potential reputational damage associated with Epstein’s legal history.

The investigation, which spanned five months, involved more than 50 interviews with current and former personnel and a review of relevant written materials. It identifies that ten foundation leaders and staff members, including Bill Gates, participated in these sessions. The meetings included multiple visits to Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse and one instance on the Gates Foundation campus. While the review uncovered no evidence of illegal activity or financial payments to Epstein, it highlights a consistent pattern of engagement that continued even after employees voiced concerns about the financier’s background.

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Bill Gates, who chairs the foundation, has faced renewed scrutiny following the release of Justice Department documents earlier this year. During testimony before a congressional committee last month, Gates characterized his past decision to engage with Epstein as a grave error in judgment. He maintained that he was introduced to the financier by trusted professional advisers in 2011. Gates claimed he did not fully comprehend the scope of Epstein's crimes at the time, despite acknowledging that he was aware of the financier’s earlier guilty plea regarding the solicitation of a minor.

The interactions primarily focused on two initiatives: the potential establishment of a charitable investment fund for global health and engagements with the International Peace Institute. Epstein reportedly introduced Gates to Terje Rød-Larsen, who served as president of the International Peace Institute at the time. The foundation subsequently entered into a grant agreement with the organization, which was focused on polio eradication. Rød-Larsen later resigned from his post in 2020 amid revelations concerning his proximity to Epstein.

The push to establish a charitable investment fund—which Epstein claimed could pool money from wealthy donors—ended in 2014 following a breakfast meeting at Epstein’s residence. According to the review, Gates concluded that Epstein had misrepresented the intentions and willingness of potential donors to contribute to the project, leading the foundation to abandon the concept.

The internal atmosphere at the foundation during this period was marked by friction, with staff members identifying the risks of the association on multiple occasions. According to the WilmerHale findings, these internal warnings were brought to the attention of senior leadership, including Gates himself. In a statement released Tuesday, foundation CEO Mark Suzman acknowledged the gravity of these findings, stating that "The work we do depends on integrity and earning and maintaining the trust of partners."

Findings and Administrative Responses

• Scope of Investigation: WilmerHale conducted over 50 interviews with personnel but did not have access to Gates' personal communications or his personal-capacity interactions with Epstein.
• Policy Changes: The foundation’s governing board has approved a centralized vetting process for brokers, donor advisers, and co-funders.
• Risk Management: New protocols include a formal escalation process for projects involving high-profile or potentially controversial partnerships.

The publication of this review coincides with shifting dynamics for the foundation. Last week, it was revealed that Warren Buffett, a long-term benefactor of the foundation, omitted the organization from his annual charitable donations this year. Buffett stated the decision was based on his belief that his children are prepared to manage his philanthropic legacy, characterizing the association with Epstein as distasteful.

Bill Gates has publicly addressed the matter. He apologized to staff during a February town-hall meeting and has consistently maintained that he never witnessed criminal conduct during his meetings with Epstein. The foundation released a three-page summary of the WilmerHale findings on Tuesday; however, officials have not indicated whether the full, unredacted report will be made public. Gates stated that the completion of this review was a necessary step to provide clarity to partners and employees, adding that the foundation is committed to ensuring trust and transparency are not compromised.