The newly-released tranche of files related to Jeffrey Epstein have cast a fresh shadow over billionaire Bill Gates’ ties to the convicted sex offender, revealing a series of graphic, unverified allegations as well as a degree of philanthropic coordination between the two that is more detailed than previously known.
The most explosive elements of the release involve two draft emails Epstein appears to have written himself in July 2013. In these stream-of-consciousness notes, riddled with typos and vitriol, Epstein appears to claim he facilitated sexual encounters for Gates and helped him obtain medication to hide a sexually transmitted infection from his wife.
It’s not clear who wrote the draft messages from 2013 saved in Epstein’s email account, but they are addressed from Epstein to himself.
Gates has strongly denied these claims as “false.”
The Justice Department’s broader document release, totaling more than 3 million pages, contains numerous other emails between the pair showing them coordinating meetings and discussing Gates’ philanthropic work.
All of the documented interactions with Gates occurred after Epstein’s 2008 conviction on prostitution-related charges.
A CNN KFile review found several hundred references to Gates in the newly released files, including numerous emails detailing schedules with meetings, meals, proposed phone calls, and attempts by Epstein to set up meetings with Gates.
Some examples include a dinner with Gates in December 2010 and a possible lunch in February 2013, followed by meetings in April and October 2011. The records also reflect a meeting in Norway in August 2012 and another a week later, two meetings in February 2013, and a possible dinner in September 2013 in which Epstein extended an invitation to a Norwegian diplomat. They further include a Google Calendar reminder for a Skype meeting with Gates in January 2014 and a meeting and phone call in September 2014.
Photos released by the House Oversight Committee in November from Epstein’s estate also showed Gates and Prince Andrew, with a pilot near a plane, and a photo of Gates with a woman whose face was redacted.
A portion of the exchanges pertain to Gates’ extensive philanthropic efforts. The Microsoft co-founder has pledged to give away the vast majority of his fortune, with a focus on global health and poverty reduction.
Epstein repeatedly offered advice on Gates’ approach to philanthropy through the Gates Foundation, with Gates’ responses indicating he took that guidance seriously and, at times, explicitly agreed with Epstein’s recommendations.
“I enjoyed the breakfast a lot,” Gates wrote Epstein in December 2014. “All of the attendees were interesting=people. We managed to talk about philanthropy=enough to get their reaction without putting them on the spot too much…So I think the breakfast was a succes= in terms of relationships I value and will continue to spend time on.”
