Even though Jeffrey Epstein, the mastermind behind a massive sex crime ring, has been dead for years, the shockwaves from his scandal continue to ripple through elite circles in Europe and the US.
HA Viewpoint: On the morning of June 29 (Eastern Time), Warren Buffett, Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, put his annual multi-billion-dollar charitable donation on hold. He is currently waiting for the results of an internal review by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation regarding its ties to Epstein.
Buffett served as a trustee for the Gates Foundation starting in 2006. The two also co-pioneered the “Giving Pledge,” encouraging global billionaires to donate more than half of their wealth to charity. However, Buffett stepped down from his trustee role at the Gates Foundation in 2021, following the divorce between Bill and Melinda Gates.
Earlier this year, on June 10, Gates concluded his closed-door testimony before the US House Committee on Oversight and Reform. Lawmakers pressed him on the details of his relationship with Epstein, their financial exchanges, and whether Gates was aware of Epstein’s criminal activities. Gates denied any involvement in Epstein’s illegal acts, reiterated his regret over knowing him, and apologized again to Gates Foundation staff for his past interactions with the financier.
Epstein was convicted in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution. Gates has stated that he was introduced to Epstein in 2011. Epstein claimed he could help raise billions of dollars for Gates’ global health initiatives. The two had dinner together several times over the next three years, but it turned out Epstein was a fraud who never fulfilled his fundraising promises.
Gates published his full testimony on his personal website . He emphasized that during their interactions, Epstein hinted at knowledge of his extramarital affairs and used this leverage to re-establish contact. Insiders suggest that Epstein hoped to use his association with Gates to access top US political and business figures, building his own network of power.
On August 2, 2021, Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates officially divorced, ending a 27-year marriage. Gates later revealed that this divorce was the biggest regret of his life, publiclyadmitting to infidelity during the marriage, which caused immense pain to his former wife.
On February 24 this year, a spokesperson for the Gates Foundation stated in a written statement that Gates took responsibility for his interactions with Epstein during a meeting with foundation employees. At that time, Gates also admitted to having affairs with two Russian women during his marriage, but clarified that these relationships did not involve victims of the Epstein case.
The Congressional Committee sent a letter on March 3 demanding Gates testify. Former President Bill Clinton, his wife, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had already testified earlier this year.
In August 2019, Epstein died suddenly in a New York prison. Since then, questions surrounding whether his death was a homicide and who his high-profile clients were have remained at the center of public attention. Many big names implicated in the Epstein case have seen their reputations collapse.
Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles III of the UK, was accused of having sexual relations with underage victims at Epstein’s private mansion on multiple occasions. He was sued in 2021 but reached a settlement out of court. One of the victims, Virginia Giuffre, passed away by suicide in Australia last year. This connection has evolved into a persistent scandal that continues to trap the British Royal Family in turmoil.
In February, Klaus Schwab, the Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, resigned unexpectedly. The trigger was his close two-year association with Epstein. Schwab stated that he was unaware of Epstein’s past and crimes before meeting him for the first time in 2018, and expressed regret for not conducting a deeper background check.
In the US, the 2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize, traditionally announced in the first week of March, was delayed, breaking a 40-year tradition. The reason was also linked to the Epstein scandal: Thomas Pritzker, a core member of the Pritzker family and Chair of the Hyatt Foundation, was a frequent guest at Epstein’s private villa.
Additionally, due to his involvement in the Epstein case, former US Treasury Secretary and former Harvard University President Larry Summers will step down from his teaching position at Harvard after the end of the current academic year.
