Bill Gates has publicly acknowledged that his meetings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were a significant mistake. Testifying before a US House panel, Gates stated he regrets the association and expressed concern that it may have inadvertently provided Epstein with legitimacy. He confirmed he should not have engaged with Epstein, and revealed Epstein attempted to leverage personal information to secure further meetings. However, Gates maintained he never observed any criminal activity during their interactions. The admission comes amid ongoing scrutiny of prominent figures’ connections to Epstein. Gates emphasized his regret and distanced himself from Epstein’s actions and character.