Topline
The Gates Foundation did not have any knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged crimes or participate in them, an external independent investigation funded by the foundation found, after Bill Gates’ relationship with the late financier intensified scrutiny on the foundation and its work.
Key Facts
The Gates Foundation announced Tuesday an independent investigation into the foundation’s ties to Epstein it funded by law firm WilmerHale did not uncover any links between the nonprofit and Epstein’s alleged crimes.
Foundation chief Bill Gates had a professional relationship with Epstein that involved discussing a potential donor-advised fund that could benefit the Gates Foundation, though Gates has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking and any wrongdoing in connection with the financier.
WilmerHale concluded it found “no evidence” of any “participation in or knowledge of Epstein’s ongoing sex trafficking operations or criminal activities” by the Gates Foundation, or that “the foundation was contemporaneously aware of Epstein’s use of the foundation’s name to help advance his conduct.”
Investigators noted Gates did engage with Epstein despite knowing of the financier’s previous 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution, and found Gates Foundation employees “raised on multiple occasions the risks of associating with Epstein because of his prior conviction.”
The investigation found foundation employees had met with Epstein approximately 30 times between 2011 and 2014, but those meetings were all focused on philanthropy, and investigators did not find any evidence Epstein was ever paid by the foundation.
New revelations about Gates’ ties to Epstein in the government’s Epstein files earlier this year led the Gates Foundation to announce the investigation in April, as it expressed regret for interactions between Epstein and foundation employees.
This story is breaking and will be updated.