Unverified emails allege misconduct as Gates calls accusations “absurd and false”
January 31, 2026: Bill Gates has come under renewed scrutiny following the release of new documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The files include unverified allegations claiming the Microsoft co-founder contracted a sexually transmitted disease after encounters with Russian women and sought antibiotics to discreetly give to his then-wife, Melinda Gates. Gates has firmly rejected the claims, describing them as baseless and unsupported by evidence.
The allegations originate from emails Epstein reportedly wrote to himself in 2013, which are part of hundreds of thousands of documents released last week by the U.S. Department of Justice. In these emails, Epstein made claims about Gates’ alleged sexual encounters, an STD, and a request to delete related emails. Responding to the controversy, a Gates spokesperson told the Daily Mail that the claims are “absolutely absurd and completely false,” adding that they reflect Epstein’s frustration and alleged attempts to defame Gates.
U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche clarified that the DOJ release—comprising millions of pages, videos, and images—does not imply wrongdoing by individuals named in the files. Gates has previously stated that he regrets his association with Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. Bill and Melinda Gates, married from 1994 to 2021, divorced after Melinda cited his affairs and Epstein connection among the reasons, though without specific details.