Published June 14, 2026
In a candid interview, philanthropist Melinda French Gates revealed she suffered nightmares and a “visceral reaction” after meeting convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, describing him as “evil” and an “abhorrent human being.”
The interview was conducted by The Guardian after her ex-husband, Bill Gates, voluntarily testified behind closed doors before the House Oversight Committee regarding his past ties to the late financier.
French Gates, who divorced Bill Gates in 2021, revealed in the interview that she knew something was wrong with Epstein. She asked: “Have you ever in your life been around somebody that you just know is evil?”
She further described that during the meeting, her heart was “racing” and that memory still haunts her.
The discussion became so distressing for her that French Gates nearly ended the interview and said, “I am done. I can’t ask any more questions.”
Even though she avoided mentioning any specifics about her dealings with him, she made it very clear how much she despised the justice system’s inability to intervene on Epstein’s behalf sooner. "The justice system failed us. It failed us. Period," she said, asking for transparency about the Epstein files.
This came right after Bill Gates' testimony to Congress, wherein he confessed that dealing with Epstein was a "gross miscalculation" on his part.
The Microsoft CEO said Epstein had tried using information about Gates' affairs in order to keep their relationship going. Gates claims that his encounters with the now-dead man ceased back in 2014.