DOJ Releases Trove of Epstein Files Containing Allegation Against Bill Gates
The US Department of Justice has made public a vast collection of documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, complying with the recently enacted Epstein Files Transparency Act. Among the millions of pages released on Friday is a particularly notable email written by Epstein himself in 2013, which contains unsubstantiated claims about billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates.
Epstein's Self-Sent Email Makes Explosive Claim
According to the newly unsealed records, Epstein sent a 225-word email to his own account on July 18, 2013, with the simple subject line "bill." Within this message, the deceased financier alleged that Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and a leading global health advocate, had engaged in extramarital sexual activity. Epstein further wrote that he had decided to "resign my position effective immediately with BG3 and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation," suggesting a professional connection that has been widely scrutinised.
The email elaborates with claims that, as an associate of Gates, Epstein was asked to perform tasks that were "potentially over the line into the illegal." It also asserts that Gates and his then-wife, Melinda, were embroiled in a "severe marital dispute" and that Epstein had helped facilitate "illicit trysts" for the billionaire. The Gates couple publicly announced their divorce in May 2021.
Vehement Denial from Gates' Camp
A spokesperson for Bill Gates responded to the allegations contained within the Epstein email with a forceful and categorical denial. In a statement provided to The Independent, the spokesperson labelled the claims "absolutely absurd and completely false." The representative suggested the document reveals more about Epstein's motives than any truth about Gates, stating, "The only thing these documents demonstrate is Epstein's frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame."
This is not the first time Gates has addressed his association with the disgraced financier. In 2021, he told PBS News that he had met Epstein for dinners with the hope of raising funds for global health initiatives, a decision he later described as "a mistake."
Massive Document Dump Complies with New Law
The release of the email concerning Bill Gates forms part of a much larger disclosure by the Department of Justice. Officials released over 3 million documents on Friday to fulfil the requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law in November. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the data dump, stating it complies with federal law and "marks the end of a very comprehensive" review process.
The newly public files include thousands of emails, court documents, and photographs. Many reference other high-profile individuals such as former Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, as well as entrepreneur Elon Musk. The Department of Justice and legal experts have consistently noted that being named in these files does not, in itself, constitute evidence of any wrongdoing.
The release ensures a significant amount of material related to the Epstein case is now in the public domain, though it is likely to fuel further speculation and analysis regarding the network of the convicted sex offender.
