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.”
“As usual everyone liked=you alot. each surprised by how knowledgeable you were about many var=ous subjects,” replied Epstein. “I suggest we have another meeting. Let me run it. moderate it. etc. or if you prefer I m happy to have someone e=se in my place, but that person has to present a structure, explain=it. ask questions of everyone.”
Epstein concluded by offering Gates an invitation to his private island, “=any interesting people visiting the island over holidays. of course =ou and your family are welcome.” Gates has maintained he never visited the island and there’s no indication he accepted the invite.
Yet the philanthropic exchanges sit alongside far more explicit allegations contained in Epstein’s unsent draft email. The two emails, dated July 18, 2013, appear to be emails that Epstein wrote to himself. It’s unclear if they were ever sent.
Though the emails suggest at the time some sort of break in their friendship, meetings and email exchanges continued during this time.
Epstein claimed within one email he helped Gates get drugs, “in order to deal with consequences of sex with russian girls” and “illicit trysts, with married women.” The email also references Gates asking Epstein to provide Adderall for bridge tournaments.
One draft email alleges that Gates tearfully asked Epstein to delete messages referencing an STD, “your request that I provide you antibiotics that you can surreptitiously give to Melinda,” and to delete explicit personal details about his penis.
The allegations contained in the draft email are unverified and uncorroborated. There is no indication the message was ever shared with Gates or anyone else, and Gates has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing related to Epstein.
Gates has strongly denied the claims and a representative of Gates told CNN: “These claims are absolutely absurd and completely false. The only thing these documents demonstrate is Epstein’s frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame. While Mr. Gates acknowledges that meeting with Epstein was a serious error in judgment, he unequivocally denies any improper conduct related to Epstein and the horrible activities in which Epstein was involved. Mr. Gates never visited Epstein’s island, never attended parties with him, and had no involvement in any illegal activities associated with Epstein.”
Gates was subsequently asked about the latest documents in an interview with CNN-affiliate Nine News in Australia.
“Apparently Jeffrey wrote an email to himself. That email was never sent, the email is you know, false. So I don’t know what his thinking was there. It just reminds me, you know, every minute I spent with him I regret and I, you know, apologize that I did that,” Gates said.
He added: “It’s factually true that I was only at dinners, you know, I never went to the island. I never met any women. And so, you know, the more that comes out, the more clear it’ll be that although the time was a mistake, it had nothing to do with that kind of behavior.”
His ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, has said in a recent preview of an interview with NPR that the release of new Epstein documents revived painful memories from their marriage and that any remaining questions about Epstein are for her ex-husband to answer.
“Whatever questions remain there of what – I can’t even begin to know all of it – those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband. They need to answer to those things, not me,” she said.
Her ex-husband’s ties to Epstein are said to have been a factor in their divorce, according to a 2021 story by the Wall Street Journal. The report cited documents to say Melinda Gates and her advisers held a number of calls in October 2019 when the New York Times reported that Gates had met with Epstein numerous times.
Attempt to broker meeting with Melinda Gates
Epstein appears to have been aware, at least somewhat, of Melinda Gates’ uneasiness of their association.
In January 2017, Epstein messaged back and forth with a redacted messenger who mentioned he was seeing Bill Gates soon. The user wrote, “He wants to talk to you but his wife won’t let him.”
“He feels bad about the DAF btw He thought great idea but wife wouldn’t allow,” wrote the redacted user, possibly referencing a donor advised fund, as a way to continue charitable giving.
The user suggested he could call Epstein while he was with Gates, adding that Gates “loves you” and “he says hi.”
Epstein then suggested Melinda connect with Kathy Ruemmler, a former White House counsel for President Barack Obama and one of the top lawyers in the country, as a way to assuage Melinda Gates’ concerns.
“Bill met my friend Kathy ruemmler, Obama counsel for 5 yrs. She would love to sit with Melinda and give her the other side of jeffrey,” Epstein wrote, adding, “she is an arch feminist who is my great defender.”
Ruemmler previously told CNN in a statement that she never met with Bill Gates nor did she advocate on his behalf with any third party, including Melinda Gates.
Representatives of both Bill and Melinda Gates previously did not respond to requests for comment over this exchange.
Emails, meetings and dinners
Across numerous emails, Epstein and Gates discussed his approach to philanthropy and work on the Gates Foundation, with advisors to Gates sometimes forwarding Epstein emails about their work.
In February 2011, Epstein emailed an individual whose name is redacted, “You and I are i=vited to Seatle to spend serious time with Bill Gates.”
Two months later an email shows Lesley Groff, an assistant to Epstein, emailing Larry Summers, a former Treasury Secretary and president of Harvard University, advising him not to expect dinner during an April 2011 meeting in New York.
“Good morning Larry. Jeffrey wanted me to let you know that on Monday night, Bill Gates will have already eaten dinner prior to his arrival…therefore, Jeffrey will only be serving tea cakes, dessert, coffee, etc type items! He wants to make sure you do not come too hungry and expecting dinner. Thank you for understanding. Have a great weekend,” Groff wrote.
“Fine. Pls make sure w jeffrey this is going to happen because I am pretzelling sched big time to be there. Lookimg fwd,” wrote Summers in reply.
Another email exchange from August 2014 shows Bill Gates and Epstein discussing Gates’ approach to philanthropy, with Epstein offering advice and Gates agreeing.
“I am confident, that with the right approach y=u will be able to raise at least 100 billion. everyone of hyper weal=h is dealing with the same issues. how to give some away,” wrote Epstein. “I =an see that selling yourself is not your strong point. usually no ne=d . here . I think you will possibly make some new friends. share ideas, with a new group of people that would like =o do good but are short on know how. n= slides. no dec ( except for follow up with their t and e lawyers. )= I would like to help you. no more no less. I love the i=ea. I know the issue , I know thepeople.”
“I agree I should not use =lides or even do a presentation,” replied Gates. “I do think a bit about ho= surprised I am at how tough doing good philanthropy is and what has reall= worked might be interesting to them. I will find a time for us=to talk this week.”
That same month, Epstein emailed the author Michael Wolff, “do I want bill gates to sug=est that the largest charitable fund structure was my brainchild�=AO and that as far as he is concerned, he knows of no better finaci=l advisor or am i asking for trouble.”
A March 15, 2017, email also shows that Epstein contacted Gates and Larry Cohen, the CEO of Gates Ventures, and encouraged them to meet Tom Barrack, an advisor to President Donald Trump who now serves as ambassador to Turkey.
“To increase the likelihood of you getting meaningful traction , i suggest you meet TOM barrack in D.C.,” Epstein wrote.
CNN’s Em Steck contributed to this report.
