Melinda Gates Declares Ex-Husband Bill Must Confront Epstein Allegations
In a revealing interview, philanthropist Melinda French Gates has publicly stated that her former spouse, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, must personally address the ongoing questions regarding his alleged connections to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The comments emerged during a preview of her upcoming appearance on NPR's Wild Card podcast, scheduled for release this Thursday.
Divorced Philanthropist Distances Herself from 'Muck'
Melinda Gates, who finalized her divorce from Bill Gates in 2021 after 27 years of marriage, emphasized that she bears no responsibility for answering inquiries about her ex-husband's associations. "Whatever questions remain there of what I don't — can't even begin to know all of it — those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband," Melinda stated during the podcast preview. "They need to answer to those things, not me. And I am so happy to be away from all the muck that was there."
The prominent advocate for women and girls expressed profound sadness when reflecting on the experiences of Epstein's victims, noting that details from the case bring back memories of "very painful times" during her marriage. "It's beyond heartbreaking. I remember being those ages those girls were. I remember my daughters being those ages," she told podcast host Rachel Martin, according to USA Today. Despite the emotional weight, Melinda confirmed she has consciously moved forward from that chapter of her life.
Latest Epstein Document Release Implicates Tech Billionaire
The timing of Melinda's comments coincides with the recent release of documents from the Epstein investigation by the U.S. Justice Department. Among the more than three million pages made public last Friday, Bill Gates' name appears alongside other influential figures including former U.S. President Donald Trump and entrepreneur Elon Musk.
Particularly damaging emails within the trove include one where Epstein allegedly claimed Bill Gates contracted a sexually transmitted disease from having "sex with Russian girls." Another document contains a resignation letter from someone identified as "Boris," who reportedly condemned Gates for disregarding a six-year friendship.
Bill Gates' Team Vigorously Denies All Allegations
Representatives for Bill Gates have issued a firm denial of all claims contained within the Epstein files. A statement from his camp characterized the allegations as "absolutely absurd and completely false," suggesting they demonstrate "Epstein's frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame."
In an interview with Australia's Nine News, Bill Gates personally addressed the controversy, stating that Epstein apparently wrote the incriminating email to himself. "That email was never sent, the email is you know, false," Gates asserted. "So I don't know what his thinking was there. It just reminds me, you know, every minute I spent with him I regret and I, you know, apologize that I did that."
The tech billionaire further clarified the nature of his limited interactions with Epstein, emphasizing: "It's factually true that I was only at dinners, you know, I never went to the island. I never met any women. And so, you know, the more that comes out, the more clear it'll be that although the time was a mistake, it had nothing to do with that kind of behaviour."
Post-Divorce Transitions Continue
Since announcing their separation in May 2021, both Gates have moved in different directions professionally. Melinda Gates departed from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in June 2024, while continuing her philanthropic work focused on gender equality and women's empowerment. The foundation itself has undergone significant restructuring following their divorce.
The public airing of these private matters underscores the ongoing legal and ethical questions surrounding Epstein's network of powerful associates, even years after his death. As more documents continue to emerge from various investigations, the scrutiny on those who had any association with the disgraced financier shows no signs of diminishing.
