Melinda French Gates said seeing her ex-husband, Bill Gates, named in the Jeffrey Epstein files brought back “painful times” in their marriage. She described feeling “unbelievable sadness” about the allegations during an NPR podcast interview. Melinda said those named in the records, including Bill Gates, need to answer questions themselves.
The files, released last week by the US Department of Justice, include claims by Epstein that Bill Gates caught a sexually transmitted infection. Bill Gates called the claims “absolutely absurd and completely false.” His representatives emphasized that being mentioned in the documents does not imply criminal wrongdoing.
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Melinda said the records are difficult for her personally because they bring back memories of tough times during her 27-year marriage. She added she is “so happy to be away from all the muck” and stressed the responsibility lies with those involved. Bill Gates had previously acknowledged an affair in 2019 but denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein.
Two emails allegedly drafted by Epstein reference Gates but are unsigned and may never have been sent. One email, framed as a resignation letter from the Gates Foundation, makes unverified claims about medical consequences. Another email criticizes Gates for ending a friendship and alleges attempts to cover up a sexually transmitted infection.
Read more: US releases final tranche of Jeffrey Epstein documents
Over the years, Bill Gates downplayed his association with Epstein, saying they only had several dinners about a philanthropy project. Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019, had a vast network of influential people, and the recently released files shed light on this network of celebrities, business leaders, and world figures.