Melinda Gates says ex-hubby Bill must ‘answer to’ Epstein files claims

Article content

The ex-wife of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates says he “needs to answer” for his alleged ties with late convicted child predator Jeffrey Epstein.

Article content

Philanthropist Melinda French Gates — who divorced Bill Gates in 2021 — discussed her former flame’s association with Epstein in an episode of NPR’s Wild Card podcast, which drops on Thursday. In a preview of the podcast, Melinda said it’s not her responsibility to answer questions about Bill.

Article content

Article content

“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,” said Melinda. “They need to answer to those things, not me. And I am so happy to be away from all the muck that was there.”

Melinda, who is an advocate for women and girls, said she’s saddened to think about what Epstein’s victims endured. Reading about details of what they experienced brings back memories of some “very painful times” in her 27-year marriage to Bill.

“It’s beyond heartbreaking. I remember being those ages those girls were. I remember my daughters being those ages. So, for me, it’s personally hard whenever those details come up,” Melinda told podcast host Rachel Martin, per USA Today. “But I have moved on from that. I purposely pushed it away, and I moved on. I’m in a really unexpected, beautiful place in my life.”

Bill and Melinda Gates announced their divorce in May 2021. Melinda left the Gates Foundation in June 2024.

Article content

Article content

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

Bill Gates in photo in latest Epstein release

The Microsoft co-founder was initially seen in a photo alongside Epstein when the U.S. Justice Department released documents from the Epstein investigation in December. In the latest release of the Epstein files this past Friday, Bill’s name was listed in documents alongside other influential men like U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

Among the more than three million documents in the latest release are emails sent from Epstein where he alleges Bill Gates got a sexually transmitted disease from having “sex with Russian girls.”

Another email contained a resignation from someone named “Boris,” who condemned Gates for disregarding a six-year friendship.

Gates’ team denies Epstein files claims

A statement from Bill Gates’ camp states the Epstein files allegations are “absolutely absurd and completely false.”

“The only thing these documents demonstrate is Epstein’s frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame,” the statement read, per CNN.

Article content

In an interview with Australia’s Nine NewsBill denied the allegations and claimed Epstein wrote the emails himself.

“Apparently, Jeffrey wrote an email to himself. That email was never sent, the email is you know, false,” said Bill. “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.

“It’s factually true that I was only at dinners, you know, I never went to the island. I never met any women,” he continued. “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.”

Article content