Melinda Gates says ex-husband Bill must answer questions over Epstein files
Melinda French Gates expressed sadness after Bill Gates was named in newly released Justice Department documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, calling the revelations personally painful.
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Melinda French Gates said her ex-husband Bill Gates must answer questions after his name appeared in documents released by the U.S. Justice Department relating to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
In an interview with NPR's Wild Card podcast, Melinda French Gates said the revelations dredged up "painful times in my marriage." She described feeling "unbelievable sadness" and stated that "whatever questions remain" needed to be answered by those named in the records, including her ex-husband.
"I am so happy to be away from all the muck," she said in the podcast interview. The couple divorced in 2021.
The Justice Department released more than three million pages of documents Friday relating to the Epstein case. Among the records are emails and notes from Epstein's archives that reference Bill Gates. According to the documents, Epstein alleged that Gates had sexual encounters with Russian women and contracted a sexually transmitted disease, which he allegedly sought to conceal from his then-wife Melinda.
Melinda French Gates said the documents were "difficult on a personal level" because they "bring back some very, very painful moments" from her marriage. She emphasized that she had "moved on" since the 2021 divorce.
She also expressed concern for victims of Epstein's crimes. "I have enormous sadness for the victims of the crimes of the deceased financier," she said, adding that "no girl should ever be put in those situations."
When asked how the recent details about her ex-husband made her feel, Melinda French Gates responded: "Sadness, an incredible sadness." She recalled being the age of Epstein's victims and thinking of her own daughters at that age, describing the experience as personally difficult each time new details emerged.
Melinda French Gates stated that people mentioned in documents related to Epstein "have something to explain." She said the revelations represent "a reckoning" for society.
A spokesperson for Bill Gates called the allegations in the documents "absolutely absurd." Bill Gates has not been accused of wrongdoing by any of Epstein's victims, and his appearance in the files does not imply criminal activity. Gates has denied the claims made in the Epstein documents.
The Justice Department has kept portions of the Epstein archives sealed. The release of documents was part of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was approved in November.