A number of celebrities found themselves under scrutiny following the release of new Epstein files last week — and one individual who quickly drew attention was Bill Gates, particularly due to allegations that he contracted STDs from “Russia girls.”
Now, the co-founder of Microsoft is addressing the situation and clarifying the facts.
What Epstein documented
Bill Gates, aged 70, has previously discussed his past relationship with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, referring to it as a “huge mistake” to have any ties with the convicted sex offender.
“In hindsight, I was unwise to spend any time with him,” he stated to the Wall Street Journal a year ago.
However, last week, their connection resurfaced as the Department of Justice released 3.5 million new documents. Among these were alarming claims that Gates contracted STDs from “Russia girls,” based on an email from Epstein in 2013. The message, which is thought to have been sent by Epstein to himself, although addressed to “Bill,” read:
“To add insult to the injury you them [sic] 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.”
Gates refuted the allegations during an interview with 9News.
“Evidently, Jeffrey wrote an email to himself. That email was never sent. The email is false,” he remarked.
“I am unsure of what his reasoning was. Was he attempting to undermine me in some manner? Every moment I spent with him, I regret, and I apologize for having done so.”
Inside their relationship
The co-founder of Microsoft stated that he first encountered Epstein in 2011 and subsequently had multiple dinners with him, but he emphasized that he never set foot on Epstein’s infamous island nor engaged in any sexual activities with women.
“The emphasis was always on the fact that he was acquainted with many wealthy individuals, and he claimed he could persuade them to contribute to global health initiatives. In hindsight, that proved to be a futile endeavor,” Gates remarked.
Melinda, Gates’ former spouse, also shared her thoughts on the issue during an episode of NPR’s Wild Card podcast, contemplating the wider implications of Epstein’s offenses.
“Any lingering questions regarding what I do not — cannot fully comprehend — are inquiries for those individuals and for my ex-husband. They must address those matters, not me,” she stated.
Response from the ex-wife
“I believe we are experiencing a societal reckoning, correct? No girl should ever find herself in the circumstances that Epstein and the various individuals surrounding him created. It is utterly heartbreaking, isn’t it? I recall being the same age as those girls, and I remember my daughters at that age.”
“Thus, it is personally challenging for me whenever those details resurface, as they evoke memories of some extremely painful periods in my marriage.”
Melinda and Bill Gates were wed for 27 years before finalizing their divorce in 2021. Subsequently, Melinda disclosed that her ex-husband had an affair with a Microsoft employee in 2019 — a claim that Gates himself acknowledged in 2021.
