Thursday, February 5, 2026-Melinda French Gates has spoken publicly for the first time after newly released documents from the U.S. Department of Justice related to Jeffrey Epstein included fresh references to her ex-husband, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
In a preview clip of an interview on NPR’s Wild Card podcast, she described her reaction as one of “unbelievable sadness” upon seeing his name and the disturbing details tied to Epstein’s communications. French Gates said the resurfacing material brings back “very, very painful times” from their 27-year marriage and underscored the emotional toll of seeing those connections revisited.
While she stopped short of commenting on specific allegations against Bill Gates, French Gates emphasized that any remaining questions around the newly released files “are for those people” — including her ex-husband — to answer, not for her to address. She made clear she has moved on from that chapter of her life, saying she is “so happy to be away from all the muck that was there” and focusing instead on leaving behind the controversies of her past.
French Gates also spoke broadly about the wider impact of Epstein’s crimes, stressing that no young girl should ever have been put in the situations linked with Epstein’s network.
The interview comes amid heightened scrutiny of Epstein’s relationships with powerful figures after millions of pages of related documents were made public. Bill Gates’ representatives have denied the allegations as false, and Gates has previously expressed regret over ever associating with Epstein. French Gates’ remarks reflect both personal pain and a call for accountability for those named in the files, even as she continues to focus on her philanthropic work and personal healing.
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