In a deposition released yesterday, Bill Gates acknowledged multiple undisclosed meetings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, contradicting earlier statements. The transcript, obtained from a 2022 lawsuit, reveals Gates discussed philanthropic partnerships and climate funding with Epstein between 2012 and 2014. These interactions occurred years after Epstein's 2008 guilty plea for soliciting a minor.
British charities, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's UK partners, now demand full disclosure of all correspondence and travel records. Dr. Helena Vance, Science & Climate Correspondent, writes: The climate sector faces a credibility crisis when its largest private funder is embroiled in scandal.
The Gates Foundation has committed over USD 5 billion to climate solutions, but its legacy now hinges on transparency. The deposition details a 2013 meeting in New York where Epstein proposed a 'green energy fund' with sovereign wealth backing. Gates expressed interest in the proposal, though no investment materialised.
Critics argue that Epstein's financial network, which included convicted fraudsters and accused traffickers, could have compromised global climate initiatives. Dr. Lena Al-Hassan, a climate finance researcher at the University of Oxford, notes: 'The fascination with Epstein's money suggests a systemic weakness in how we vet philanthropic capital.
We need a publicly accessible register of all significant donors to climate funds.' The Gates Foundation has stated it will cooperate with legal requests but has not released internal documents. This story is developing.
