Bill Gates on Epstein Files: "I Was Foolish"

Following the February 2026 unsealing of millions of pages under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has faced renewed scrutiny. The latest documents, released by the Department of Justice (DOJ), include thousands of pages of internal communications, draft emails, and witness notes that provide a deeper look into the proximity between Gates and Jeffrey Epstein.

In an exclusive interview with Australia’s 9News on February 4, 2026, Gates addressed the findings with a blunt admission, stating he was "foolish" to have ever associated with the convicted sex offender.

The 2026 Disclosures: What the New Files Allege

The most controversial elements of the latest DOJ dump involve unsent draft emails and personal notes authored by Epstein in 2013. These records contain several unverified and inflammatory claims about Gates’s private life:

• The "Russian Girls" Allegation: Draft emails suggest Epstein claimed to have helped Gates obtain medicine following sexual encounters with "Russian girls."

• The STD Claims: One specific note alleged that Gates contracted a sexually transmitted infection and sought Epstein’s help to acquire antibiotics surreptitiously to give to his then-wife, Melinda, without her knowledge.

• The Resignation Draft: The files included a draft resignation letter Epstein reportedly wrote for a high-ranking employee of the Gates Foundation, citing ethical "muck" and discomfort with the Bill/Epstein connection.

Gates’s Response: "I Regret Every Minute"

Gates has categorically denied the specific allegations regarding sexual misconduct, drugs, or medical cover-ups. Speaking from Melbourne, Australia, he dismissed the draft emails as the desperate fabrications of a "resentful" man:

"Apparently, Jeffrey wrote an email to himself. That email was never sent. The email is false. I don’t know what his thinking was there. Was he trying to attack me in some way? Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologize that I did that."

Gates reiterated that his meetings—which began in 2011, after Epstein’s 2008 conviction—were strictly centered on philanthropy. He maintained that he hoped Epstein could leverage his network to fund global health initiatives, a pursuit he now calls a "dead end."

Melinda French Gates: "He Has Questions to Answer"

Adding to the pressure, Melinda French Gates spoke out on the NPR Wild Card podcast on February 5, 2026. She described the latest revelations as "painful" and a reminder of the "muck" she had to leave behind when she finalized their divorce in 2021.

"Whatever questions remain there... for those people, and for even my ex-husband, they need to answer to those things, not me," she said, signaling that she would not act as a shield for Bill’s past judgment.

Why It Matters in 2026

While the DOJ and FBI noted in a 2025 memo that there was "scant evidence" to charge any of the high-profile men mentioned in the files with criminal trafficking, the 2026 Transparency Act has shifted the focus from legal guilt to moral accountability. For Gates, the "foolish" association remains a significant stain on his philanthropic legacy as lawmakers, including Representative Nancy Mace, call for him to testify before Congress regarding the specific nature of his ties to the Epstein network.

Source - https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bill-gates-addresses-mentioned-epstein-files-says-was-foolish-rcna257441

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