Melinda French Gates has broken her silence following the release of the latest batch of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, which contain allegations concerning her ex-husband, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. The philanthropist, aged 61, appeared on NPR's Wild Card podcast this week, where she was questioned by host Rachel Martin about the implications of her name appearing in the files.
Addressing 'Very Painful' Memories
During the interview, Melinda Gates acknowledged that the ongoing revelations surrounding the convicted sex offender Epstein have prompted a societal reckoning. She stated that the case 'brings back memories of some very, very painful times' in her 27-year marriage to Bill Gates. The couple announced their divorce in May 2021.
'But I have moved on from that. I purposely pushed it away and I moved on,' she asserted. 'I'm in a really unexpected, beautiful place in my life, so whatever questions remain there... Those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband. They need to answer to those things, not me.'
Specific Allegations in Released Email
Martin pressed Melinda Gates on the contents of a draft email, allegedly written by Epstein in July 2013, which mentions her by name. The host summarised that the email suggests Bill Gates had additional affairs, sought medication for a sexually transmitted infection, and planned to administer it to Melinda without her knowledge.
When asked about her dominant emotion upon reading news articles detailing this email, Melinda Gates responded with 'just unbelievable sadness.' She expressed a profound empathy for the young victims associated with Epstein, stating, 'I'm able to take my own sadness and look at those young girls and say, 'My God, how did they... How did that happen to those girls, right?''
She added, 'At least for me, I've been able to move on in life, and I hope there's some justice for those now women.'
Bill Gates' Spokesperson Denies Claims
A spokesperson for Bill Gates has issued a vehement denial of the allegations contained within the Epstein documents. 'These claims are absolutely absurd and completely false,' the spokesperson previously told The Independent. '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.'
In the same year as the divorce announcement, Bill Gates admitted to PBS News that meeting with Epstein for dinners, in hopes of raising funds for global health initiatives, was 'a mistake.'
Context of the Document Release
The newly released email forms part of over three million documents made public last Friday to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law in November. This latest batch includes:
- Thousands of emails and court documents
- Numerous photographs
- References to various high-profile individuals, including former Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, and entrepreneur Elon Musk
It is crucial to note that being named in these files does not, in itself, constitute evidence of wrongdoing. Melinda Gates stepped down from the Gates Foundation in May 2024, marking a significant shift in her professional life following the personal turmoil of her divorce.
