Melinda Gates has addressed the topic of forgiveness following the release of Epstein files that alleged her former husband, Bill Gates, ‘contracted an STD from Russian girls and attempted to covertly give his wife antibiotics’.
Recent revelations have stirred significant attention around the Gates family after the Microsoft co-founder was mentioned in documents disclosed by the US Department of Justice last month.
The documents contain emails purportedly drafted by Jeffrey Epstein, in which he accused Gates of contracting an STD from ‘Russian girls’ and subsequently seeking Epstein’s assistance.
In an email dated July 18, 2013, Epstein wrote: “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 penis.”
Following the emergence of these claims, a representative for Gates labeled them as ‘absolutely absurd and completely false’.
In a statement given to LADbible Group, they commented: “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.”
Though being mentioned or depicted in these documents doesn’t imply misconduct, the rumor’s connection to his former wife, Melinda—who ended their 27-year marriage in 2021—brought it up in a recent interview.
While appearing on NPR’s Wild Card podcast, Melinda was questioned about forgiving Gates. She responded: “I think I’m gonna keep that one to myself.”
She hinted at a ‘work in progress’ on the issue, adding, ‘I think I’m getting there’.
During the same interview, she shared her thoughts on the Epstein controversy.
“Whatever questions remain there of what I don’t — can’t even begin to know all of it — those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband,” she mentioned.
Melinda further stated: “They need to answer to those things, not me.”
The philanthropist continued: “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.
“It’s beyond heartbreaking, right? I remember being those ages those girls were, I remember my daughters being those ages.
“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.”