The Gates Foundation Investigates Its Epstein Connections (7/23/26)

An external review commissioned by the Gates Foundation found that Jeffrey Epstein participated in roughly 30 meetings with Bill Gates and nine other foundation leaders and employees between 2011 and 2014. The meetings reportedly focused on philanthropic matters, including a proposed donor-advised fund, polio eradication strategy, donor introductions and Gates’s involvement with a nonprofit that later received foundation funding. Some meetings took place at Epstein’s Manhattan home, while one occurred on the foundation’s campus. The review found no evidence that the foundation paid Epstein or that its personnel knew about or participated in his ongoing criminal activity.However, the review also confirmed that Gates and senior foundation officials were repeatedly warned about the reputational dangers of dealing with Epstein because of his 2008 conviction. Despite those concerns, the relationship continued for several years, with Gates later acknowledging that he failed to properly scrutinize Epstein’s background. The foundation has responded by approving stronger centralized vetting procedures and a formal system for escalating organizational risks. Gates said the review was necessary to provide transparency and strengthen oversight, but its findings raise fresh questions about why clear warnings from foundation employees were not enough to end the relationship sooner.to contact me:[email protected]