A newly revealed external review has found that Bill Gates repeatedly ignored warnings from his own staff urging him to distance himself from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, adding fresh damage to the Microsoft co-founder's reputation. The report also finally clarifies the reason behind the eventual falling-out between the two men, ending years of speculation about why Gates severed ties with Epstein after their relationship became public knowledge.

The review reportedly details specific instances where advisers flagged concerns about Gates' continued contact with Epstein, only for those warnings to go unheeded for a period of time. The disclosure comes amid renewed scrutiny of Epstein's wide-ranging network of contacts following the release of declassified files, which has already led to further revelations, including the discovery of a suspected Epstein associate found dead in Paris.