A fresh set of documents released from the Jeffrey Epstein files has put forward unverified allegations claiming that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates contracted a sexually transmitted disease after alleged encounters with Russian women and later sought antibiotics, supposedly to be discreetly passed on to his then-wife, Melinda Gates. The claims originate from emails Epstein reportedly wrote to himself in 2013 and form part of a large cache of materials made public by the US Department of Justice on Friday. The allegations have not been independently corroborated.
In response to the release, Gates issued an unusually strong and categorical denial through a spokesperson, rejecting the accusations outright. The spokesperson described the claims as completely false and baseless, arguing that the documents instead reveal Epstein’s resentment over his inability to maintain a relationship with Gates and his alleged attempts to damage Gates’s reputation. According to the statement, the emails reflect Epstein’s frustration rather than any factual account of events.
The US Justice Department said the latest disclosure includes more than three million pages of investigative records related to Epstein, alongside thousands of videos and hundreds of thousands of images. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the release followed an extensive internal review process aimed at complying with transparency requirements while protecting sensitive information.
The specific emails drawing attention are dated July 18, 2013, and appear to be draft messages authored by Epstein, some written as though they were from Gates’s then-adviser Boris Nikolic. In these drafts, Epstein accused Gates of engaging in sexual encounters with “Russian girls,” contracting an STD, and requesting antibiotics that could be secretly administered to Melinda Gates. Epstein also alleged that Gates had asked him to delete emails connected to the purported episode.
Within the same batch of draft messages, Epstein expressed anger and disbelief over Gates’s decision to cut ties after what he described as six years of association. He claimed to feel betrayed and made sweeping allegations that he had been asked to participate in conduct he characterised as morally questionable and ethically improper. None of these assertions have been supported by evidence or verified by investigators.
The released material also contains previously unseen photographs of Epstein and Gates together at various locations, though officials have repeatedly emphasised that the appearance of individuals in the files does not imply criminal behaviour or knowledge of Epstein’s illegal activities. Authorities have cautioned against drawing conclusions solely from the presence of names or images in the documents.
Gates has previously acknowledged that he regrets having any association with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. He has consistently denied engaging in any improper conduct and has stated that he never had a business relationship with Epstein.
Bill Gates and Melinda Gates were married from 1994 until their divorce in 2021. In past remarks, Melinda Gates has said that her former husband’s extramarital affairs and his interactions with Epstein were factors that contributed to the end of their marriage, though she has not elaborated on specific details.
