Bill Gates’s Ties to Jeffrey Epstein Revisited Amidst New Disclosures
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates’s longstanding relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continues to draw scrutiny, with newly released documents revealing further details of their interactions and raising questions about Gates’s judgment. The disclosures approach as Gates addresses past extramarital affairs, adding another layer to the controversy.
Early Contact and Continued Communication
Gates first met Epstein in 2011, three years after Epstein’s conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Despite this, Gates maintained contact with Epstein for several years, visiting him in New York, Germany, France, and Washington. Gates has stated he should have investigated Epstein’s background more thoroughly, but maintains he did not engage in any illegal activity and never met with Epstein’s victims.
Epstein’s Role as Intermediary
Epstein acted as an intermediary between Gates and his advisor, Boris Nikolic, in 2013, as Gates sought to end his working relationship with Nikolic. Emails released from the Epstein estate as well suggest Epstein attempted to mediate a dispute involving allegations of mistreatment and a sexually transmitted infection. Gates’s spokesperson has dismissed these allegations as “absolutely absurd and completely false,” attributing them to a “proven, disgruntled liar.”
Connections to Norwegian Diplomats and Funding
The relationship extended beyond personal interactions. In January 2018, Epstein facilitated a meeting between Gates and Terje Rød-Larsen, then president of the International Peace Institute (IPI), at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Rød-Larsen, a prominent Norwegian diplomat, had previously received funding from the Gates Foundation for polio-related perform.
Confidential Information and Potential Influence
Between 2013 and 2015, Rød-Larsen reportedly forwarded at least ten sets of confidential field intelligence from the Gates Foundation’s polio program in Pakistan to Epstein’s personal email address. Epstein also requested to review grant correspondence between IPI and the Gates Foundation before it was sent, seeking a degree of control over the communication. The Gates Foundation awarded IPI $2.5 million for polio-related work in 2013, and Epstein personally lent Rød-Larsen $130,000 that same year.
Broader Scandal and Investigations
These revelations are part of a wider scandal involving Epstein’s connections to prominent figures, including Bill Gates, Terje Rød-Larsen, and Thorbjørn Jagland. Norwegian authorities are investigating Rød-Larsen for “aggravated corruption,” and the Epstein scandal threatens to damage Norway’s international reputation.
Gates has admitted to having affairs with two Russian women, which occurred during the period of his association with Epstein. He maintains these women were not victims in the Epstein case.