Melinda French Gates Breaks Silence on Epstein Files, Says Questions Are for Bill Gates to Answer

Melinda French Gates says reading about her ex-husband Bill Gates in the newly released Epstein Files has left her deeply saddened — especially for the alleged victims — and brought back painful memories from her marriage.

In a preview for an upcoming episode of NPR’s Wild Card podcast, Melinda addressed the recent release of documents by the Department of Justice related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Melinda made it clear that her sympathy lies with the victims. She said no girl or young woman should ever be put in a situation like that by powerful men. She added that anyone named in the files — including her ex-husband Bill Gates — should be the ones answering questions about their involvement.

“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,” she said.

Melinda also shared that the details in the documents reminded her of “very, very painful times” during her marriage. However, she emphasized that she has moved on with her life.

“I purposely pushed it away and I moved on,” she said, adding that she is now in a “very beautiful place” and no longer feels the need to engage with the controversy.

The former couple announced their divorce in 2021, though reports later revealed Melinda had begun consulting divorce lawyers as early as 2019, after concerns surfaced about Bill Gates’ past association with Epstein. Melinda has previously stated that she was uncomfortable with that relationship and told Bill so directly.

The newly surfaced allegations include a draft email written by Epstein that claims Bill Gates contracted a sexually transmitted disease from a Russian woman and planned to secretly give Melinda antibiotics. These claims have been strongly denied.

A spokesperson for Bill Gates responded by calling the allegations “absolutely absurd and completely false,” saying the documents only show Epstein’s frustration over not maintaining a relationship with Gates and his attempts to “entrap and defame” him.

For her part, Melinda says she is done addressing the issue. Her focus, she says, remains on healing, moving forward, and holding space for the victims — while leaving the unanswered questions to those directly involved.