Bill Gates has said he regrets “every minute” he spent with Jeffrey Epstein, after new documents linked to the late financier were released by the US Justice Department.

Speaking to 9News Australia, Gates apologised for having met Epstein in the past and said he wished he had never done so.

“Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologize,” Gates said.

The latest set of documents includes emails involving several well-known public figures. These papers show connections and communications, but do not by themselves prove any illegal activity.

One draft email in the documents contained claims made by Epstein about Gates. The email alleged that Gates was involved in personal misconduct. Gates strongly denied these claims.

“That email was never sent. The email is false,” Gates said.
“I don't know what his thinking was there. Was he trying to attack me in some way?”

A spokesperson for Gates also rejected the claims, saying the documents only show Epstein’s frustration.

“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,” the spokesperson said.

Gates’ former wife, Melinda French Gates, said the release of the documents brought back painful memories.

Speaking to National Public Radio, she said:

“For me, it's personally hard whenever those details come up.”

She added that unanswered questions remain and should be addressed by those involved.

“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.”

The couple divorced in 2021.

Gates said he first met Epstein in 2011 and had several dinners with him over three years. He said their discussions focused on raising money for global health causes.

“The focus was always, he knew a lot of very rich people, and he was saying he could get them to give money to global health. In retrospect, that was a dead end,” Gates said.

He also stated that he never visited Epstein’s private island and denied any inappropriate behaviour.

Context around Epstein files

Epstein died by suicide in prison in 2019 while facing serious charges. Officials have clarified that appearing in the released documents does not automatically mean a person committed any wrongdoing. However, the files show that Epstein had links with many powerful individuals, some of whom had earlier downplayed or denied such connections.