Warren Buffett witholds Gates Foundation donation for first time in decades over alleged Epstein ties: report

Warren Buffett is withholding his annual multibillion-dollar donation to the Gates Foundation for the first time in two decades as he waits for the charity to complete an internal review of its past ties to late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a report.The 95-year-old Berkshire Hathaway chairman is delaying his customary summer gift of Berkshire shares until later this year — potentially until Thanksgiving — while awaiting the findings of the review, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.The move marks the first interruption in Buffett’s annual giving to the Gates Foundation since he began donating Berkshire stock in 2006 as part of what he called his “lifetime” philanthropic pledge.Buffett’s decision points to the growing strain in his once-close relationship with Gates, which has cooled in recent months amid renewed scrutiny of the Microsoft co-founder’s ties to Epstein.The Gates Foundation has hired law firm WilmerHale to conduct an outside review of its past contacts with Epstein, with findings expected later this summer.Buffett and his associates have been in contact with Gates Foundation leadership, including CEO Mark Suzman, to learn more about the foundation’s connections to Epstein and the status of the review, according to the Journal.Buffett has donated around $48 billion total to the Gates Foundation — making the charity by far the largest beneficiary of his philanthropy.Buffett’s hesitation comes as Gates faces heightened scrutiny over his years-long relationship with Epstein after the Justice Department released additional Epstein-related files this year.Gates has acknowledged repeatedly meeting Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction, saying the relationship was driven by his belief that Epstein could help attract billions of dollars for global health causes.During his recent closed-door House Oversight Committee interview, Gates also discussed an extramarital affair with Russ...