Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has issued an apology to employees of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation following renewed controversy linked to his previous association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The development comes after fresh US Department of Justice materials — including records and photographs — brought renewed attention to meetings between Gates and Epstein. Some of the released images reportedly showed Gates in social settings where individuals’ identities were obscured.

Internal Apology at Town Hall

According to remarks shared by a Foundation spokesperson, Gates addressed staff during a recent internal town hall, where he accepted responsibility for engaging with Epstein in the past. He described the interactions — and involving senior Foundation officials in certain meetings — as a significant error in judgment.

During the session, Gates apologised to colleagues who, he said, had been indirectly affected by the fallout. He maintained that he had not engaged in unlawful conduct and stated that he neither witnessed nor participated in any illegal activity connected to Epstein.

Gates also responded to references in the newly discussed documents about two past personal relationships with Russian women. He clarified that these relationships were unrelated to Epstein’s crimes and did not involve any of Epstein’s victims.

Foundation’s Position

Earlier this month, the Foundation reiterated that it had never provided financial support to Epstein and had never employed him in any capacity. The organisation sought to draw a clear distinction between Gates’ past personal interactions and its institutional work.

Withdrawal from India AI Summit

The renewed scrutiny followed Gates’ last-minute withdrawal from the India AI Impact Summit 2026, where he had been scheduled to deliver a keynote address. The event was set to feature leading figures in the technology sector, including Sundar Pichai, Sam Altman and Dario Amodei.

In a statement issued shortly before the summit, the Foundation said Gates’ decision to step back was intended to keep the spotlight on the conference’s primary themes rather than ongoing controversy surrounding his past ties.

The episode marks another chapter in the continuing public examination of Gates’ interactions with Epstein, an issue that has resurfaced periodically in recent years. While Gates has repeatedly said his meetings with Epstein were a mistake, the release of additional documents has reignited debate over the extent and context of that association.