Melinda French Gates delivered one of her strongest public condemnations yet of Jeffrey Epstein, calling the disgraced financier "evil" and an "abhorrent human being" just days after her former husband, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, appeared before members of Congress to answer questions about his past interactions with Epstein.
The comments, made during an interview with The Guardian, renewed attention on a chapter that has continued to shadow Bill Gates years after his meetings with Epstein became public. The timing is particularly notable because it follows Gates' recent testimony before the House Oversight Committee, where lawmakers questioned him about the nature of his relationship with the convicted sex offender.
French Gates described her lone encounter with Epstein as deeply disturbing and said the experience left a lasting impression. Recalling the meeting, she challenged assumptions that people always need evidence before recognizing dangerous behavior.
"Have you ever in your life been around somebody that you just know is evil?" French Gates asked during the interview. She added, "We need to listen to our feelings about people."
Her criticism extended beyond Epstein himself to institutions she believes failed to stop him. Speaking about the victims, French Gates said, "My heart goes out to the young girls," while arguing that authorities missed opportunities to intervene earlier.
"The justice system didn't do its job. It did not do its job. Full stop. This could have been stopped," she said. "If we don't want children to be harmed, the justice system has to work."
The interview reportedly became emotional as French Gates revisited the subject. According to accounts of the conversation, she showed visible discomfort discussing Epstein and indicated little desire to continue speaking publicly about him.
Her remarks surfaced as Bill Gates faced renewed scrutiny over meetings he held with Epstein after the financier had already pleaded guilty to sex-related offenses. During his recent appearance before Congress, Gates reportedly told lawmakers that Epstein had attempted to use information about his personal life as leverage, characterizing the behavior as blackmail.
Gates also reiterated a position he has expressed publicly for years: that meeting with Epstein was a mistake. According to reports from the hearing, he told lawmakers he never witnessed criminal conduct firsthand and believed the meetings were connected to discussions about fundraising and global health initiatives.
Publicly, Gates has repeatedly described those interactions as "a grave error in judgment." Representatives for Gates and organizations connected to him have likewise said he has acknowledged responsibility for maintaining contact with Epstein.
While questions about Epstein continue to generate headlines, French Gates has increasingly focused attention on her independent philanthropic work following her 2021 divorce. After leaving the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2024, she expanded efforts through Pivotal Ventures, directing resources toward women's health, reproductive care, political representation and technology-sector opportunities.
According to the report, French Gates has committed roughly $215 million toward programs focused on healthcare and women's advancement. Her advocacy has increasingly centered on issues she argues have been overlooked for decades, including maternal mental health and menopause care.
Reflecting on wealth and responsibility, French Gates told The Guardian, "I think we're all only on this Earth for a blink of an eye, and I never, in my wildest dreams, thought I would end up with these kinds of resources." She continued: "It's been just a huge privilege, but I feel like, OK, well, if I've got them, I have had this belief for a long time that to whom much is given, much is expected."
The philanthropist said she measures success less by financial metrics than by personal impact, citing a line from poet Bessie Anderson Stanley that has become central to her outlook: "To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, that is to have succeeded."
Asked about her current outlook after several years marked by divorce, public scrutiny and organizational changes, French Gates offered a succinct assessment of her life today, saying she is "very happy."
