Internal memo outlines major restructuring and independent probe into Bill Gates’ past interactions with Jeffrey Epstein.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Gates Foundation is preparing to cut approximately 20 percent of its workforce while initiating an external review into founder Bill Gates’s prior connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
An internal email to staff detailed the planned layoffs and broader organizational changes, which come amid continued scrutiny over Gates’ past interactions with Epstein. The foundation has faced ongoing attention since details of those connections became public.
Chief executive Mark Suzman said in a memo to employees that an independent review has been commissioned to examine the organization’s past engagement with Epstein, along with policies governing how partnerships are evaluated. “This is a challenging time for our organization in many ways, but it also highlights the critical importance of taking the tough actions now,” Suzman wrote. The report indicated that findings from the review are expected later this summer.
Pressure on the foundation intensified earlier this year after the U.S. Department of Justice released documents that included email exchanges between Epstein and individuals associated with the organization. The materials also contained photographs showing Gates with Epstein, as well as images including unidentified women whose identities were redacted.
In response to the disclosures, the foundation stated in February that it had never provided funding to Epstein or employed him in any role. The organization also said it regretted that some staff had interacted with him. During an internal town hall meeting, a spokesperson said Gates “took responsibility for his actions” related to the association.
Gates has previously said his interactions with Epstein were limited to discussions about philanthropy and has acknowledged that meeting him was a mistake. He has also denied any contact with victims connected to Epstein’s criminal conduct.
Separately, materials released as part of broader Epstein-related files have included additional claims regarding Gates. In one 2013 message, contained in a Justice Department document, Epstein wrote that Gates was seeking medication related to alleged personal matters. The message, written in what appeared to be the voice of longtime adviser Boris Nikolic but sent by Epstein, also referenced a request for antibiotics involving Gates’ then-wife, Melinda Gates. The document included language suggesting internal disputes and concerns over reputational issues, though the context and accuracy of the claims have not been independently verified.
The combination of planned layoffs and the external review marks a significant shift for the foundation as it navigates internal restructuring alongside renewed attention to past associations involving its leadership.
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