Bill Gates recently sat down with PBS Newshour host Judy Woodruff, who asked him about his meetings with Jeffrey Epstein.

Woodruff pointed out, “I also want to ask you about something else in the public arena, it was reported at that time, that you had a number of meetings with Jeffrey Epstein—who, when you met him ten years ago, he was convicted of soliciting prostitution from minors.”

Gates appeared caught off guard by Woodruff’s question, and he replied, “You know, I had… dinners with him… I regret doing that..” He then added, “He had relationships with, ahhh, people he said, you know, would give to global health, which is an interest I have.”

Gates went on to dodge questions about reports that he continued meeting with Epstein as recently as 2014. When asked about learning a lesson from the situation, Gates stated, “Well, he’s dead, so, uh, in general you always have to be careful.”