Melinda Gates says her ex-husband will have to answer for what is stated in the Epstein documents.

BarcelonaBillionaire Melinda French Gates says she felt "incredible sadness" over the publication of more documents which detail the relationship between her ex-husband, Bill Gates, and the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. "I remember being that age, I remember when my daughters were that age. For me, personally, it's very difficult because it brings back painful memories of my marriage," she says.

In an interview given to the podcast Wild Card Speaking to NPR, the ex-wife of the Microsoft co-founder asserts that "questions remain" and that all those involved, including her ex-husband, will have to answer for what is stated in the documents. "Any questions that remain about the facts [...] are for these people [those involved in the case] and even for my ex-husband. They are the ones who must answer these questions, not me," she emphasizes.

Amid the controversy generated by the publication of more than 3,000 pages of documents related to the pedophile —whose scope is only just beginning to be examined— the philanthropist explains that she is glad to be "away from all this mess."

Draft emails written in 2013 and recovered from Epstein's account, though it's unclear whether they were ever sent, appear to suggest angry feelings directed at Bill Gates. One is worded as a resignation letter to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with Epstein complaining about having to get medication for Bill "to deal with the aftereffects of having sex with Russian girls."

Another, which begins by addressing the Microsoft co-founder, laments that he ended their friendship and accuses him of trying to cover up a sexually transmitted infection for his wife. Bill Gates has maintained that this is "false."

The couple was married for 27 years, until their divorce in 2021. US media have reported that, prior to the separation, French was upset about her husband's relationship with Epstein. However, Gates has not yet been charged with any crimes related to the financier.

In the interview, French laments that the situation of the young women and minors who suffered abuse under Epstein's care was "unimaginable" and "heartbreaking." "How could this happen to these girls?" she laments. "At least in my case, I've been able to move on with my life. And I hope that justice is done for these women [...] What they had to go through is simply unimaginable," she explains.

Bill Gates's Regret

In recent years, Gates has repeatedly expressed regret for choosing to spend time with Epstein. The billionaire broke his silence on the release of the documents in an interview with9NewsIn Australia, she stated that their interactions were limited to dinners and that she never visited the sex offender's island. "I regret every minute I spent with him and apologize for doing so," she said.

Following the latest allegations, a spokesperson for Bill Gates stated: "The only thing these documents demonstrate is Epstein's frustration at not having an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he was willing to go to in order to spread a sling and defame him." "These claims, coming from a resentful liar with a history of wrongdoing, are absolutely absurd and completely false," the spokesperson added.