An external review commissioned by the Bill Gates Foundation has found that Jeffrey Epstein met with foundation leaders and staff, including Gates himself, roughly 30 times between 2011 and 2014, despite staff repeatedly flagging concerns about associating with the disgraced financier because of his prior conviction. The review, conducted by law firm WilmerHale, was commissioned in March after the US justice department released millions of Epstein-related documents earlier this year that renewed scrutiny of Gates's past ties to him. It found no evidence that anyone at the foundation participated in or knew of Epstein's sex-trafficking operations, that the foundation was aware Epstein was using its name to advance his conduct, or that Epstein was ever paid by the foundation.

The five-month review drew on more than 50 interviews with current and former foundation personnel, including Gates, plus extensive written records. Gates, who has not been accused of wrongdoing, has said he was introduced to Epstein in 2011 by a trusted adviser who claimed he could raise billions for global health causes, and that their interactions ended in December 2014. He has apologised to foundation staff and told a House oversight committee in June that he "never witnessed nor had any indication" Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct, while acknowledging he "accepted the introduction without applying the scrutiny I should have."