Bill Gates Cancels Keynote at India AI Summit Following Epstein Revelations
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and leading philanthropist, has abruptly withdrawn from delivering a high-profile keynote address at an artificial intelligence summit in India. The decision comes amid renewed scrutiny over Gates’s past connections to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Gates Foundation Issues Statement on Last-Minute Cancellation
Just hours before Gates was scheduled to appear at the India A.I. Impact Summit, the Gates Foundation released a statement via X (formerly Twitter). “After careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities, Mr. Gates will not be delivering his keynote address,” the statement read. Though the announcement did not explicitly mention Epstein, it followed a wave of attention after the U.S. Justice Department’s recent release of extensive files related to Epstein’s associations.
Justice Department Files Ignite Renewed Scrutiny
Millions of pages of emails, text messages, and photographs made public by the Justice Department have cast a brighter spotlight on high-profile individuals linked to Epstein, including Gates. Among the documents are notes written by Epstein that allege Gates engaged in extramarital encounters and sought medication for the consequences of these actions, specifically referencing “Russian girls.” Gates’s representative has categorically denied these allegations, stating, “These claims — from a proven, disgruntled liar — are absolutely absurd and completely false.”
History of Gates-Epstein Relationship
The nature of Gates’s relationship with Epstein has been a subject of public interest since shortly after Epstein’s death by suicide in 2019 while in federal custody. Gates met Epstein on multiple occasions, and the two discussed the possibility of launching a charitable fund together. The recently released files include numerous messages between Gates, his representatives, and Epstein, as well as photographs in which the identities of women are obscured to protect their privacy. These details have raised further questions about the extent and depth of their interactions.
Epstein Files Impact Global Figures
The repercussions of the Justice Department’s document release extend beyond Gates. British authorities recently arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, on allegations of sharing confidential information with Epstein during his tenure as a British trade envoy. In Norway, former Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland faces charges of “gross corruption” amid suggestions that he accepted gifts, travel, and loans through Epstein. Documents show that Gates was introduced to Jagland, then head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, by Epstein himself.
The Role of Melinda French Gates and Other Associates
According to the released files, Epstein attributed Gates’s decision to sever ties to the influence of his then-wife, Melinda French Gates. Epstein even suggested that Kathryn Ruemmler, a former Obama White House counsel, should try to plead his case to Melinda. Text messages from 2017 show Epstein proposing, “She would love to sit with Melinda and give her the other side of Jeffrey.” However, a spokesperson for Melinda French Gates has confirmed she never met with Ruemmler.
Ruemmler herself resigned recently from her position as the top legal officer at Goldman Sachs after it was revealed she had advised Epstein on responding to questions about his sex crimes, and addressed him in messages with terms of endearment such as “sweetie” and “Uncle Jeffrey.”
Melinda French Gates Reflects on Difficult Times
In a recent interview with NPR, Melinda French Gates described the latest revelations as “bringing back memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage.” She emphasized that questions about Gates’s actions “are for those people, and for even my ex-husband. They need to answer to those things, not me.”
Gates Responds to Allegations, Affirms Focus on Philanthropy
In a separate interview with an Australian broadcaster two weeks ago, Gates reiterated his previous explanations for meeting Epstein: to raise funds for philanthropy. He stated, “It’s factually true that I was only at dinners, you know I never went to the island, I never met any women, and so the more that comes out the more clear it’ll be that although the time was a mistake, it had nothing to do with that kind of behavior.”
Implications for the India AI Summit and Gates’s Reputation
Gates has enjoyed longstanding popularity in India, where his foundation actively supports health and development projects. The India A.I. Impact Summit gathered leading figures in artificial intelligence and dignitaries such as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Until earlier this week, Gates’s participation was confirmed, and the foundation had promoted his scheduled address publicly.
The cancellation has shifted attention at the summit from technological innovation to the ongoing fallout from the Epstein scandal, underscoring the lasting impact such controversies can have on public events and the reputations of those involved.
This article is inspired by content from Original Source. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.