During a recent interview, billionaire Bill Gates stated that he regrets his relationship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. After allegations of Epstein’s relationship with children were revealed to the public, Gates decided that it would be a good idea to help rebuild Epstein’s public image behind the scenes.
The Microsoft co-founder’s association with Epstein was reportedly a prevalent factor in Gates’ divorce with his wife, Melinda. The couple finalized the end of their twenty-seven-year marriage on Monday, although court documents did not reveal how they would allocate Gates’ $150 billion fortune.
Gates allegedly pushed Epstein to remake his public image after his sex offenses began to circulate in the public eye. Gates encouraged Epstein to rehabilitate his image in the media following his 2008 guilty plea for soliciting a minor for prostitution, and discussed Epstein becoming involved with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Gates is now finally realizing that it was not a good idea to help an accused pedophile, stating that it “was a huge mistake to spend time with him.”
“It was a huge mistake to spend time with him, to give him the credibility of, you know, being there,” Gates said. “You know, there were lots of others in that same situation, but I made a mistake.”
Gates asserted that his “several dinners” with Epstein only occurred because he hoped “what he said about getting billions of philanthropy to global health through contacts that he had might emerge.”
Gates also commented on his divorce, calling it a “sad milestone,” as “Melinda’s a great person and that partnership that we had coming to an end is a source of great personal sadness.”
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation — which holds nearly $50 billion in assets and is one of the most powerful nonprofits in the world — emphasizes public health, education, and other social causes. However, it also supports“family planning” initiatives and has donated heavily to Planned Parenthood; in 2012, the Gates Foundation pledged $1 billion to “help reach the goal of providing 120 million additional women with contraceptives, information, and services by 2020.”
The foundation recently revealed that although Bill and Melinda Gates will attempt to work together as co-chairs, Melinda will resign from the organization within two years if the partnership is no longer productive.
