Investigation into whether Bill Gates left Microsoft for an “inappropriate” relationship with an employee

Bill Gates left the Microsoft board in 2020 as an investigation was underway into the billionaire’s romantic relationship with a company employee.reported the newspaper The Wall Street Journal on Sunday.

The founder and former chief of the US tech giant resigned as chairman of the board in March 2020.

“Members of the board of directors of Microsoft Corp. decided Bill Gates must step down in 2020 as they investigate the billionaire’s romantic relationship with a Microsoft employee deemed inappropriateThe newspaper reported, citing people close to the subject.

It is “a matter almost 20 years ago which ended amicably,” a spokeswoman for Gates told the Wall Street Journal.

According to the spokesperson, Gates left Microsoft to focus more on his philanthropic organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Gates and his wife Melinda, who co-founded their charity two decades ago to fight global poverty and disease, announced their divorce on May 3 after 27 years of marriage.

A Microsoft spokesperson told the AFP that the company was alerted in the second half of 2019 that “Bill Gates sought to initiate an intimate relationship with a company employee in 2000. A board committee reviewed the case, with the help of an outside law firm, to conduct a full investigation. “

The employee, an engineer, claimed in a letter to have had a romantic relationship with Gates “for years,” reported The Wall Street Journal.

According to the newspaper, some board members also questioned Gates’ connection to financier Jeffrey Epstein, who committed suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial for alleged trafficking in minors.

The Gates team assured the board that the Microsoft founder had met Epstein for “philanthropic reasons” and that he “regretted doing so.”, according to the newspaper.

However, Microsoft founder reportedly had a close relationship with Epstein. According to New York Times, the tycoons have had numerous meetings since 2011. Boris Nikolic, adviser to Bill Gates, was involved in the execution of the New York financier’s will. And Melanie Walker, who worked at the Gates Foundation, advised Epstein on science.

In 2011, Gates attended a party at Epstein’s Manhattan mansion, The New York Times revealed. And in 2013, the Microsoft founder flew the New York mogul’s private plane from New Jersey to Palm Beach, Florida. That same year, the two reportedly met again in New York.

“I met him. I had no business or friendship relationship with himGates said in September 2019. “I haven’t been to New Mexico or Florida or Palm Beach or anything like that. There were people around him who were like, ‘Hey, if you want to fundraise for global health and get more philanthropy, he (Epstein) knows a lot of rich people. ”

“Every meeting I had with him there were other people. I’ve never been to any party or anything like that. He never gave money to anything that I know of, ”Gates added.

In addition to this romantic relationship, they investigate Gates’ inability to stop inappropriate acts among his employees. It seems, The American tycoon did little to solve a sexual harassment case involving his accountant. Gates decided to resolve the matter on a confidential basis, but his ex-wife insisted on a full external investigation. However, Michael Larson, who was one of the Microsoft founder’s most trusted men, remained in his post, reported The New York Times.

Gates, who founded Microsoft in 1975, resigned as CEO of the company in 2000, saying he wanted to focus on its foundation.

He left his full-time position at Microsoft in 2008. She post of director of the board of directors was the last post that officially linked him to the company.

With AFP information

KEEP READING: