Melinda Gates Refuses To Detail Ex-Husband Bill, Jeffrey Epstein’s Connection

Melinda French Gates dodged a question about her ex-husband Bill Gates’ connection to the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The 57-year-old billionaire philanthropist sat down with Gayle King for an interview that aired on “CBS Mornings” Thursday. During their discussion, French Gates was asked about the work her former husband did with Epstein, but she refused to answer the question directly.

“Any of the questions remaining about what Bill’s relationship there (with Epstein), those are for Bill to answer those questions,” she told King.

However, she admitted that she was upset with the Microsoft co-founder’s meetings with the convicted sex offender. “I made it very clear how I felt about [Epstein],” she said.

During the interview, French Gates recalled the one time he met with Epstein, and she did not mince words when she described the controversial financier.

“I wanted to see who this man was. I regretted it from the minute I stepped in the door. He was abhorrent. He was evil personified. I had nightmares about it afterwards,” she was quoted as saying by The Hollywood Reporter.

Melinda and Bill, 66, shocked the world when they filed for divorce in May of last year. It was finalized in August.

Speaking of their decision to terminate their 27-year marriage, French Gates said that it was “not one thing but many things” that led to their divorce. One of them was her ex’s work with Epstein.

“I did not like that he had meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, no. I made that clear to him,” she said, as per Vanity Fair.

In a statement to “CBS Mornings,” Bill said that “meeting with Epstein was a mistake that I regret deeply. It was a substantial error in judgment.”

In August 2021, Bill addressed his connection to Epstein, telling CNN that it was “a huge mistake” for him to spend time with the hedge-fund manager because it gave the latter “the credibility of being there.”

“I had several dinners with him, you know, hoping that what he said about getting billions of philanthropy for global health through contacts that he had might emerge. When it looked like that wasn't a real thing, that relationship ended,” Gates added.

Epstein was accused of operating a sex trafficking ring and sexually abusing dozens of underage girls. He pleaded guilty to two state prostitution charges and served 13 months in prison.

In August of 2019, Epstein was found dead in his New York jail cell. His cause of death was determined as suicide by hanging.