Washington: Freshly released files linked to the long-running Jeffrey Epstein investigation have reignited public scrutiny, after documents made public by the US Department of Justice referenced unproven allegations concerning Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
The claims appear in draft emails Epstein reportedly wrote to himself in 2013. In those messages, Epstein alleged that Gates had intimate encounters with Russian women, contracted a sexually transmitted infection, and later sought antibiotics that could be administered discreetly to his then-wife, Melinda Gates. The documents do not provide evidence to support these assertions, and authorities have stressed that the allegations remain unverified.
Gates has firmly rejected the claims. Responding to the document release, a spokesperson for the billionaire philanthropist described the allegations as “completely false and absurd,” stating that the emails reflect Epstein’s resentment following the breakdown of his relationship with Gates and an apparent attempt to smear his reputation.
US justice officials clarified that the disclosure of the files—more than three million pages of records, along with thousands of videos and images—does not suggest criminal conduct by individuals named within them. The department said the materials were released after an extensive review process aimed at transparency, noting that references to public figures should not be interpreted as proof of wrongdoing or awareness of Epstein’s crimes.
The disputed emails, dated July 18, 2013, appear to be draft notes rather than correspondence sent to others. Some sections are written in a voice resembling that of Boris Nikolic, a former science adviser to Gates, though no confirmation has been made regarding authorship or intent.
Beyond the health-related allegations, Epstein also claimed that Gates had asked him to delete emails and accused him of backing away from their association after several years. Epstein further suggested he had been pressured to participate in conduct he considered ethically questionable. None of these claims have been independently corroborated.
The latest release also includes photographs showing Epstein and Gates together at various events, images that have circulated previously in media reports. Gates has acknowledged in the past that he regrets having met Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Gates has repeatedly said he had no business dealings with Epstein and has denied any improper behavior.
Bill and Melinda Gates were married for nearly three decades before divorcing in 2021. Melinda Gates has previously stated that her former husband’s extramarital affairs and his association with Epstein were factors in the collapse of their marriage, though she has not elaborated publicly.
As the Epstein files continue to be examined, officials and legal experts caution that unverified claims within the records should be treated carefully, underscoring the distinction between allegation and established fact.
