Buffett Pauses Gates Foundation Donation over Epstein Review

Warren Buffett is skipping his usual mid-year multibillion-dollar donation to the Gates Foundation as he waits for the findings of a review into the foundation’s ties to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

The foundation has been mired in controversy over Chairman Bill Gates’s association with Epstein. Emails released by the US Justice Department in January also showed communication between Epstein and Gates Foundation staff.

Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman has commissioned an external review to assess past foundation engagement with Epstein. The findings are expected this summer.

Buffett is delaying his donation decision until later this year, possibly until he publishes his Thanksgiving letter, the report said, citing people familiar with his plans.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Berkshire Hathaway and the Gates Foundation did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Buffett, the 95-year-old chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, has donated more than $47bn of the conglomerate’s stock to the Gates Foundation over the past two decades.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, 70, saw his reputation tarnished after the Department of Justice released files about Epstein in February.

Gates has not been accused of any crimes. He has repeatedly expressed regret for having anything to do with Epstein and has denied spending time with victims of his sexual abuse, saying he never witnessed any criminal conduct.

(Reuters, Max)