Newly unsealed court documents from a deposition of Bill Gates regarding his interactions with Jeffrey Epstein have prompted UK charities to call for greater transparency from the billionaire philanthropist. The deposition, taken as part of a civil lawsuit against Microsoft, reveals that Gates met with Epstein on multiple occasions after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor, despite public statements to the contrary.
Dr. Helena Vance, Science & Climate Correspondent: The deposition transcript, released yesterday by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, details a series of meetings between Gates and Epstein between 2011 and 2014. Gates initially claimed his interactions were limited to philanthropic discussions, but the deposition shows they discussed topics including climate change investment strategies and global health policy. The meetings took place at Epstein’s townhouse in Manhattan and during flights on his private jet.
UK charities, including several that have received substantial funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, are now demanding a full account of these interactions. “Our donors and beneficiaries expect the highest ethical standards,” said a spokesperson for a London-based climate research institute. “We need to understand the full context of these meetings to ensure no reputational risk to our work.”
The Gates Foundation has released a statement acknowledging that “a mistake was made” in continuing contact with Epstein but insists that no funds were exchanged and that Gates acted on the advice of his team. However, the deposition reveals that Gates was explicitly warned by his advisors to cease contact with Epstein in 2013, yet continued to meet with him the following year.
This development comes at a critical time for climate philanthropy. The Gates Foundation has committed over $1.5 billion to climate research and clean energy projects, and Gates himself has become a prominent voice on climate action. The controversy risks undermining trust in the foundation’s operations, particularly as climate science faces increasing political scrutiny.
Dr. Vance notes: The biosphere does not care about human scandals, but public confidence in climate funding is essential for sustained action. If this distracts from the urgent need to decarbonise our energy systems, the real cost will be measured in gigatonnes of CO2, not in legal fees.
The charities are calling for the full deposition to be released, arguing that transparency is necessary to maintain public trust. “We cannot afford to have our climate work tainted by association,” the spokesperson added. “The science is clear: we have limited time to act. We must ensure every resource is used responsibly.”
Gates has not commented on the latest revelations. The case continues in New York, with further hearings scheduled for next month.
