Bill Gates has admitted that Jeffrey Epstein sought a ‘personal relationship’ with him, a revelation that has prompted the UK’s child safety watchdog to demand full disclosure. The admission, made in a BBC interview, marks a significant shift in the Microsoft founder’s public stance on his association with the convicted sex offender.
The UK’s Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has formally requested evidence of the nature and extent of Gates’s dealings with Epstein. The watchdog, which has been investigating institutional failures to protect children, sees this as a potential lead into broader networks of exploitation.
Gates, who previously downplayed his meetings with Epstein, now acknowledges that the financier ‘very much wanted to have a personal relationship’ but insists it was ‘purely business’. He denied any wrongdoing but admitted to an error of judgment in continuing their association after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor.
Labour MP and chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, Yvette Cooper, said: ‘This is a deeply troubling admission. We need to know who knew what and when. The public deserve transparency, especially when it involves powerful figures who may have enabled Epstein’s crimes.’
Downing Street has not commented directly but sources indicate the government is ‘closely monitoring’ the inquiry’s requests. The Charity Commission is also reviewing Gates’s charitable activities in the UK, including contributions from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has invested heavily in British health and education projects.
For survivors of abuse, this admission is a stark reminder of how privilege can shield the wealthy. ‘It’s the same old story,’ said a spokesperson for the Survivors Trust. ‘Powerful men are given the benefit of the doubt while victims are ignored. We welcome the inquiry’s determination to follow the evidence, wherever it leads.’
The development puts pressure on other prominent individuals mentioned in Epstein’s contacts, including Prince Andrew, whose legal battles continue. The Duke of York has consistently denied allegations of sexual abuse.
As the IICSA prepares to request internal documents from Gates’s foundation and personal communications, the focus turns to what was discussed behind closed doors. For a nation still reeling from the Savile scandal and other high-profile cases, this is a test of whether the system can hold the powerful to account.
