Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has said he regrets ever knowing Jeffrey Epstein, as his former wife Melinda French Gates publicly alluded to painful issues in their marriage and said Gates still has questions to answer over his association with the deceased financier.
Speaking to Australia’s 9News on Wednesday, Gates denied allegations that he hid a sexually transmitted disease from his wife following contact with women linked to Epstein. The claim emerged in a recent release of the Epstein files. Gates called the allegation false and said it was based on an unsent email Epstein had written to himself in 2013.
“Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologize that I did that,” Gates said, adding that he believed Epstein may have been attempting to defame or attack him.
Gates said he met Epstein in 2011 and had dinner with him on several occasions to discuss potential funding for global health initiatives. He said those discussions went nowhere and insisted he never visited Epstein’s private Caribbean island or engaged in any improper conduct.
His remarks followed comments by Melinda French Gates to NPR, where she described the resurfacing of Epstein-related details as deeply painful. She said Gates must answer questions about his relationship with Epstein and described her former marriage as something she needed to leave behind.
“I’m so happy to be away from all the muck that was there,” she said, while expressing sadness over the allegations and sympathy for Epstein’s victims.
The renewed scrutiny has also prompted political attention. Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace said she has asked the House oversight committee to subpoena Gates as part of its investigation into Epstein’s activities.
The Epstein scandal continues to cast a long shadow, nearly six years after his death in custody while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.