Bill Gates Foundation cleared of wrongdoing in Epstein ties after external review

An independent five‑month review commissioned by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and conducted by law firm WilmerHale found that Bill Gates and foundation leaders met with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein roughly 30 times between 2011 and 2014. The meetings, held at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse and once on the foundation’s campus, focused on a proposed donor‑advised public‑health fund and a grant to the International Peace Institute.

Foundation staff repeatedly warned senior leaders, including Gates, about the reputational risk of dealing with Epstein after his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor. Despite those warnings the engagements continued until late 2014, when Gates concluded the fund would not materialise and the relationship was ended.

WilmerHale’s review, based on more than 50 interviews with current and former staff, found no evidence that the foundation paid Epstein, participated in illegal activity, or was aware of his sex‑trafficking operations. The review did not have access to Gates’s personal communications. Following the findings the foundation announced new centralized vetting procedures and risk‑management policies. Gates has repeatedly denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and described the meetings as a “grave error in judgment.”