Newly released Epstein documents have placed Bill Gates back in the spotlight due to allegations about his personal conduct.
The Microsoft co-founder is speaking out to clarify the situation after the Department of Justice published 3.5 million documents last week.
An email from Epstein in 2013 contained shocking claims about Gates contracting STDs from “Russian girls.” The message also referenced antibiotics for Gates’s then-wife Melinda.
Gates denied the allegations in an interview with 9News, noting the email was written by Epstein to himself and never actually sent to him.
He called the email false and expressed uncertainty about Epstein’s motives, while reiterating regret over every minute spent with the disgraced financier.
Gates explained he initially encountered Epstein in 2011, having multiple dinners based on claims Epstein could connect him with wealthy donors for global health initiatives.
Melinda French Gates addressed the matter on NPR’s Wild Card podcast, describing the Epstein situation as personally challenging and connected to painful memories from her marriage.