April 21 (Reuters) - The Gates Foundation has opened an external review of its engagement with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing an email the philanthropic group sent to its staff.
The foundation has been mired in controversy due to Chairman Bill Gates' association with Epstein. A release of emails in January by the U.S. Justice Department also showed communication between Epstein and the Gates Foundation's staff.
Gates
Foundation CEO Mark Suzman said in the memo on Tuesday, seen by the Journal, that he commissioned an external review of the foundation's engagement with Epstein and policies for vetting and developing new philanthropic partnerships.
"This is a challenging time for our organization in many ways, but it also highlights the critical importance of taking the tough actions now," Suzman said in the memo, adding that an update on the review is expected in the summer, the Journal reported.
The foundation did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.
It said in February that it did not make any financial payments to Epstein or employ him at any time and that it regrets having any employees interact with him in any way.
The DOJ documents also included photos of Bill Gates posing with Epstein, as well as with women whose faces were redacted.
Gates has said his relationship with Epstein was confined to philanthropy, and that it was a mistake to meet with him. He has also denied spending time with victims of the financier's sexual abuse.
A spokesperson for the organization told Reuters that during a town hall meeting with foundation employees in February, Gates "took responsibility for his actions" regarding his ties to Epstein.
Bill Gates is the chair and board member of the foundation started by him and his then-wife in 2000, which is one of the world's biggest funders of global health initiatives.
(Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Mexico City; Editing by Franklin Paul and Daniel Wallis)
