盖茨基金会委托律师事务所WilmerHale进行的外部审查发现，比尔·盖茨及基金会员工在2011年至2014年间与已定罪的性犯罪者杰弗瑞·爱泼斯坦约见面30次 [1]。尽管这些会面涉及声誉风险，基金会员工对此曾表示担忧 [1]。
这些会议主要围绕一个未能实现的公共卫生基金和国际和平研究所的拨款展开 [1]。会面包括对爱泼斯坦曼哈顿住宅的数次访问和一次在盖茨基金会校园的会议 [1]。审查未发现基金会向爱泼斯坦付款或任何违法行为 [1]。
基金会于周二发布了该报告的三页摘要 [1]。盖茨曾告诉国会委员会，与爱泼斯坦的见面是"重大判断失误" [1]。基金会首席执行官马克·苏兹曼表示，董事会已批准加强审核流程和风险管理的措施 [1]。
爱泼斯坦于2019年7月因未成年人性贩运罪和共谋实施性贩运未成年人罪被联邦起诉 [1]，其后在审判前因自杀身亡 [1]。
An external review commissioned by the Gates Foundation has revealed that Bill Gates and foundation staff held approximately 30 meetings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein between 2011 and 2014, despite internal concerns about reputational risks [1]. The review, conducted by law firm WilmerHale, documented meetings that included multiple visits to Epstein's Manhattan residence and one gathering at the Gates Foundation campus [1].
The meetings primarily centered on an unrealized public health fund and grants to the International Peace Institute [1]. The foundation released a three-page summary of the report on Tuesday [1]. The review found no evidence that the foundation made payments to Epstein or engaged in any unlawful conduct [1].
Epstein was federally indicted in July 2019 on charges of sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors [1]. He died by suicide before trial [1].
Gates has characterized his interactions with Epstein as a "serious error of judgment" when speaking to a congressional committee [1]. Foundation CEO Mark Suzman stated that the board has approved measures to strengthen vetting processes and risk management procedures [1].