Gates said he had never been to Epstein Island.

In an exclusive interview, Gates confronted the controversy surrounding his relationship with Epstein, and faced direct questions about rebuilding his reputation and credibility without evasion. Gates clarified, "I did have dinner with Epstein a few times between 2011 and 2014, but there is actually nothing new to add about this. I have never been in contact with any victims, and I have never been to his island." He further explained that at the time he simply thought Epstein knew many wealthy people who could help fund global health initiatives. "He promised me that he could raise a lot of money for global health, but in reality, no progress was made and we didn't raise a penny."