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Melinda French Gates has said the re-emergence of her ex-husband Bill Gates’ name in the latest tranche of Jeffrey Epstein files has reopened “very, very painful” chapters from her marriage.

Speaking on NPR’s Wild Card podcast, the billionaire philanthropist described feeling “unbelievable sadness” as new files released by the US Department of Justice circulated online last week. The records, which feature more than three million documents, include references to Bill Gates made by Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.

“For me, it’s personally hard whenever those details come up,” Melinda said. “Because it brings back memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage.”

While the presence of a name in the files does not, on its own, establish criminal wrongdoing, it does highlight how deeply embedded Epstein was among political leaders, business magnates, philanthropists and celebrities — many of whom continued associations even after his 2008 conviction for soliciting sex from a 14-year-old girl. That such a network existed at all, critics argue, points to how wealth and power helped shield a predatory system from meaningful accountability.

Melinda, therefore, did not attempt to shield her former husband from scrutiny. “Whatever questions remain there — of what, I can’t even begin to know all of it — those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband,” she said. “They need to answer to those things, not me.”

Among the newly released materials are two emails dated July 18, 2013, which appear to have been drafted by Epstein himself.

In one email sent to himself, Epstein appears to suggest that Bill contracted a sexually transmitted disease and sought to give his then-wife, Melinda, antibiotics secretly. Epstein wrote in the email that he was “dismayed” that Bill was ending their friendship over the “accident”.

In another email sent the same year, Epstein accused Bill of involving him in what he called “morally inappropriate” and “ethically unsound” activities. “From helping Bill to get drugs, to deal with consequences of sex with Russian girls, to facilitating his illicit trysts with married women, to being asked to provide Adderall for bridge tournaments,” the email reads.

A spokesperson for the Microsoft founder has rejected the claims. “These claims, from a proven, disgruntled liar, are absolutely absurd and completely false. 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,” they said.

Over the years, Bill has consistently downplayed his connection to Epstein, saying they met only a handful of times at “several dinners” to discuss a philanthropic initiative that never materialised.

The broader release has once again thrown light on Epstein’s vast and disturbing network of powerful contacts, many of whom maintained links with him even after his 2008 conviction.

Melinda said in the interview, “I had to leave my marriage, I felt I had to eventually leave the foundation, so it’s just sad. At least I’ve been able to move on in life, and now I hope there’s some justice for those women.”

Epstein’s former girlfriend and accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, remains the only person to be convicted in connection with his sex trafficking crimes.

Melinda said the allegations of child sexual abuse were “beyond heartbreaking”.

“I think we’re having a reckoning as a society… no girl should ever be put in the situation. I remember being those ages, I remember my daughters being those ages.” She said she deliberately worked to move on from “the muck”.

The couple divorced in 2021 after 27 years of marriage. US media have previously reported that Melinda had been deeply uncomfortable with her husband’s association with Epstein before their separation. After the divorce was announced, Bill acknowledged having had an affair with a Microsoft employee in 2019.

Cover image via Reuters