During a recent interview, billionaire Bill Gates expressed his regret about every minute spent with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Gates maintains that he has nothing to be ashamed of despite the negative attention surrounding his association with Epstein. Melinda French Gates, Bill’s ex-wife, believes he should address the controversy surrounding their connection.
Background on Bill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein
Gates’ divorce in 2021 was partially attributed to his relationship with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019. Epstein’s past included allegations of engaging in sex trafficking. Recently released documents from the U.S. Department of Justice included an unsent email from Epstein that referenced Gates’ extramarital affairs. This email included disturbing claims about Gates seeking medication to handle sexual encounters with Russian women.
Responses from Melinda French Gates
In an interview with NPR, Melinda French Gates stated that it is up to Bill and others involved to explain their actions. She emphasized that these individuals, including her ex-husband, need to address the situation, not her. Melinda expressed relief at distancing herself from the controversy related to Epstein, confirming his relationship played a role in their divorce.
Gates’ Denial of Allegations
Bill Gates has denied the claims made in Epstein’s email. During an interview with Australia’s 9News, he labeled the accusations as “absurd” and criticized Epstein as a “habitual liar.” Gates asserted that he only attended dinners with Epstein and never went to his island or engaged with women through him.
Implications of Released Documents
The DOJ released over three million pages of documents on January 30. These documents did not contain new evidence to warrant further prosecutions, according to Todd Blanche, deputy of the DOJ. Notably, he remarked that merely mentioning an individual’s name in these documents does not imply wrongdoing.
Despite the ongoing scrutiny, Gates looks forward to a future where more facts will come to light, distinguishing his actions during that time from the misconduct associated with Epstein.
