Bill Gates, one of the wealthiest individuals globally, has spoken out amidst the latest allegations linked to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex trafficker. Gates addressed the matter during an interview with Nine News on Wednesday, marking his first public comments since the release of new documents related to Epstein.

“The focus was always on the fact that he knew a lot of very wealthy people, and he claimed he could persuade them to donate money to global health,” Gates explained. This statement came during his exclusive Australian television interview with Nine, coinciding with his visit to the Australian Open, held from January 12 to February 1 at Melbourne Park.

Reflecting on his past interactions with Epstein, the billionaire expressed regret, stating, “In hindsight, it was a dead end, and I was foolish to spend time with him. I am one of many who regret ever knowing him.”

Gates further addressed the issue of an unsent email reportedly penned by Epstein to himself. “Apparently, Jeffrey wrote an email to himself. That email was never sent. The email is, you know, false,” Gates remarked, adding, “I don’t know what his thinking was there. Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologize for that.”

‘Apparently, Jeffrey wrote an email to himself. That email was never sent. The email is, you know, false.

‘I don’t know what his thinking was there. Every minute I spent with him, I regret and I apologise that I did that.

‘I was only at dinners… 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.’

The latest tranche of documents contains allegations against a number of well known people including Gates, who met Epstein on multiple occasions to discuss expanding his philanthropic efforts.

Bill Gates (above) said he regrets spending time with Epstein but that no impropriety occurred

Gates (second right) met Epstein (second left) on multiple occasions to discuss his philanthropic efforts

Epstein is pictured with a young woman who appears to be in her underwear in a photograph released as part of the Epstein files

One email Epstein sent to himself in 2013 shows him frustrated over Gates’ decision to end their friendship and appears to allege Gates contracted an STD and sought his advice to secretly give an antibiotic to his then-wife Melinda. 

‘TO add insult to injury you them implore me to please delete the emails mails regarding your std, your request that I provide you antibiotics that you can surreptitiously give to Melinda and the description of your penis,’ the email with typos reads.

Another section showed Epstein writing he was ‘dismayed beyond comprehension’ by Gates’s decision to ‘disregard our friendship developed over the last six years.’ 

The emails were among the hundreds of thousands of Epstein files published by America’s Department of Justice on Friday morning. 

Melinda, who divorced Bill Gates in 2021, earlier on Tuesday said those mentioned in the documents, including her ex, have some explaining to do.  

During Tuesday’s episode of NPR’s Wild Card podcast, Melinda said she felt sorry for the victims of Epstein.

‘I think we’re having a reckoning as a society, right? No girl, no girl should ever be put in the situation that they were put in by Epstein and whatever was going on with all of the various people around him,’ she said, shaking her head.

She added: ‘It’s beyond heartbreaking. I remember being those ages those girls were, I remember my daughters being those ages. 

Melinda Gates (above) responded to the allegations brought against Gates on Tuesday

‘So, for me, it’s personally hard whenever those details come up, right? Because it brings back memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage.’

Melinda and Gates were married from 1994 to 2021. She cited Gates’s affairs and friendship with Epstein as reasons for the divorce, but has not divulged further details. 

Melinda reportedly hired lawyers to plan the split in 2019, after reports emerged about his repeated meetings with Epstein, contradicting the Microsoft founder’s earlier public denials.

She retained counsel after becoming concerned about her husband’s alleged business dealings with the pedophile financier, The Wall Street Journal reported.