Epstein claimed Gates had asked him to do “things that get near and potentially over the line into the illegal” or “morally inappropriate”, NBC News reported.
The memos further alleged that Gates requested Epstein procure antibiotics he could “surreptitiously give” to French Gates, who he was married to for 27 years.
French Gates, herself the founder of philanthropic investment company Pivotal Ventures, said the claims caused her “unbelievable sadness”.
“For me, it’s personally hard whenever those details come up, right, because [it] brings back memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage.”
She was hopeful there would be some form of justice for the women abused by Epstein, describing what they had been through as “just unimaginable”.
“I think we’re having a reckoning as a society, right? No girl, no girl should ever be put in the situation that they were put in by Epstein and whatever was going on with all of the various people around him.”
Gates has continued to vehemently deny his involvement in Epstein’s crimes, alleging he had been in contact with the financier for primarily charitable reasons.
In a statement to PEOPLE, a spokesperson for the billionaire said the “absolutely absurd” emails proved nothing.
“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.”
The former couple founded the Gates Foundation together in 2000, investing US$60.2 billion ($99.6 billion) into various health and food programmes.
After their divorce in May 2021, the pair continued to work together for a trial period until French Gates’ eventual resignation as co-chair in 2024.
They share three children together, Jennifer, Rory, and Phoebe, who Gates said would only inherit less than a meagre 1% of his $104b ($172b) net worth.
