Melinda Gates says Epstein files reopened 'painful times' from marriage to Bill Gates

Melinda French Gates has said that seeing her former husband Bill Gates named in newly released Jeffrey Epstein-related records brought back "painful times in my marriage," describing the situation as deeply distressing.

Speaking on NPR's Wild Card podcast, the billionaire philanthropist said she feels "unbelievable sadness" over the Epstein allegations and believes those named in the files, including her ex-husband, must respond to the questions raised, reports BBC.

"I am so happy to be away from all the muck," she said. The couple ended their 27-year marriage in 2021.

The comments came after the US Department of Justice released millions of documents linked to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Among them is an allegation by Epstein claiming Bill Gates contracted a sexually transmitted disease, a claim Gates has strongly denied.

"These claims – from a proven, disgruntled liar – are absolutely absurd and completely false," a spokesperson for Bill Gates said. Gates has not been accused of wrongdoing by Epstein's victims, and his appearance in the files does not suggest any criminal activity.

Reflecting on the renewed attention, Melinda French Gates said: "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 added: "Whatever questions remain there of what - I can't even begin to know all of it - those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband. They need to answer to those things, not me."

US media have previously reported that Melinda French Gates was unhappy about her husband's association with Epstein before their separation. After the divorce was announced, Bill Gates acknowledged having had an affair with a Microsoft employee in 2019.

The latest allegations appear in more than three million documents released last week. Two emails dated July 18, 2013, appear to have been drafted by Epstein, though it is unclear whether they were ever sent to Gates. Both originated from and were addressed back to Epstein's own email account, were unsigned, and show no visible Gates-linked email address.

One email, written as if it were a resignation letter from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, alleges Epstein helped obtain medication for Bill Gates "to deal with the consequences of sex with Russian girls." Another email beginning "dear Bill" complains about a broken friendship and repeats claims that Gates attempted to hide a sexually transmitted infection, including from his then-wife.

Bill Gates has long minimised his interactions with Epstein, saying they involved only "several dinners" related to a philanthropic idea that never materialised.

Following the latest document release, his spokesperson said: "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 document trove offers further insight into Epstein's extensive network of prominent figures, some of whom maintained contact even after his 2008 conviction for soliciting sex from a 14-year-old girl. Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.