Melinda French Gates has responded to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s newly released emails that refer to her ex-husband Bill Gates, who has long battled his connection to the disgraced financier.
Melinda French Gates comments on new emails from Jeffrey Epstein that implicate Bill Gates, who denies the claims. (AFP)The documents — which were released by the U.S. Department of Justice last week — include years-old draft emails that Epstein wrote to himself, in which he claimed the Microsoft co-founder contracted a sexually transmitted infection from “Russian girls” and later sought Epstein’s help.
An email dated July 18, 2013 said, “To add insult to injury you then, with tears in your eyes, request that I please delete your study emails, your request that I provide you with antibiotics that you can secretly give to Melinda, and your pay***”.
In a statement to PEOPLE, a representative for Bill, 70, described Epstein’s allegations as “absolutely false.”
“The only thing these documents demonstrate is Epstein’s frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths to which he would go to entrap and defame,” the spokesperson said.
Bill’s ex-wife, with whom he has three children, recently appeared on an episode of NPR’s Wild Card podcast, where she addressed the recent allegations against Bill.
Also read: Epstein had a secret ‘baby boy’ 15 years ago, Sarah Ferguson claims in bombshell email
Here’s what Melinda French Gates had to sayWhen host Rachel Martin asked for Melinda’s reaction to the ex-husband’s reference in the latest batch of Epstein documents, she said “it’s not heartbreaking,” People reported.
He discusses the wider impact of Epstein’s misconduct on women and young girls, as well as his extensive network of influential men. He further reflected on his own marriage.
“I think we’re making a reckoning as a society, right? No girl, no girl should ever be put in a situation like what they were going through with Epstein and the various people around him”.
“It’s heartbreaking, isn’t it? I remember girls being that age, I remember my girls being that age,” she commented.
“So for me, it’s personally difficult whenever those details come up, right, because [it] “It brings back memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage,” she continued. “But I’ve moved on from that.”
She said her ex-husband would have to “answer” all the questions, adding that she was “very happy to be away from all the warts out there.”
Bill has previously described his past encounters with Epstein as a misjudgment and said he was “foolish to spend any time” with the man, insisting he was looking for charity.
He has not faced any charges of criminal activity or misconduct related to Epstein’s crimes.