Bill Gates apologises for Epstein ties, admits affairs with Russian women

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has apologised to staff at the Gates Foundation over his ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while maintaining he did nothing illicit. The Microsoft co-founder admitted to having two affairs with Russian women and acknowledged making mistakes that could cast a cloud over the philanthropic organisation. Gates insisted he did not participate in Epstein's crimes. The clarification comes after the Epstein controversy led to significant attention on Gates and Microsoft's reputation. Gates previously faced scrutiny during his visit to India, when he withdrew from participation in the AI Impact Summit amid the controversy. The statement appears to be an attempt to clarify his position following disclosures that emerged during his 2021 divorce from Melinda Gates, which revealed details about his behaviour and relationships. The controversy has reportedly affected Microsoft's image and share performance.