Melinda French Gates has reacted to newly disclosed emails from sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that mentioned her former husband, Bill Gates, who has long struggled with his connection to the disgraced financier.
The documents — which were released by the U Department of Justice last week — contain years-old draft emails that Epstein wrote to himself, in which he claimed that the Microsoft co-founder contracted a sexually transmitted infection from "Russian girls" and subsequently sought Epstein's assistance.
“To add insult to the injury you then subsequently with tears in your eyes, implore me to please delete the emails regarding your std, your request that I provide you antibiotics that you can surreptitiously give to Melinda, and the description of your pe***," states an email dated July 18, 2013.
In a statement to People, representative for Bill, 70, described Epstein's allegations as “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 spokesperson stated.
Bill’s ex-wife, with whom he has three children, recently appeared in an episode of NPR's Wild Card podcast, where she addressed the recent allegations against Bill.
{{/usCountry}}Bill’s ex-wife, with whom he has three children, recently appeared in an episode of NPR's Wild Card podcast, where she addressed the recent allegations against Bill.
{{/usCountry}}Also Read: Epstein had a secret ‘baby boy’ 15 years ago, claims Sarah Ferguson in bombshell email
Here's what Melinda French Gates said
When host Rachel Martin sought Melinda's reaction to the mention of ex-husband in the latest batch of Epstein documents, she stated that “it is beyond heartbreaking,” People reported.
She discussed the broader implications of Epstein's misconduct towards women and young girls, as well as his extensive network of influential men. She further reflected on her own marriage.
“I think we're having a reckoning as a society, right? No girl, no girl should ever be put in the situation that they were put in by Epstein and whatever was going on with all of the various people around him,” the philanthropist said.
“It's beyond heartbreaking, right? I remember being those ages those girls were, I remember my daughters being those ages,” she remarked.
“So for me, it’s personally hard whenever those details come up, right, because [it] brings back memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage,” she continued. “But I have moved on from that.”
She went on to say that her ex-husband needs “to answer” all the questions, adding that “I am so happy to be away from all the muck that was there.”
Bill has earlier described his past encounters with Epstein as a misjudgment and stated that he was “foolish to spend any time” with the person, asserting that he was in pursuit of charitable assistance.
He has not faced any allegations of criminal activity or misconduct related to Epstein's offenses.