What other allegations about Bill Gates appear in the Jeffrey Epstein files and how were they verified?
Executive summary
The newly released Jeffrey Epstein files contain draft emails penned by Epstein that allege Bill Gates contracted a sexually transmitted infection after encounters with “Russian girls,” sought antibiotics to secretly give to then‑wife Melinda French Gates, and that Epstein or his associates helped facilitate illicit trysts and obtain drugs for Gates; those allegations appear in notes Epstein emailed to himself and remain unverified by independent evidence [1] [2] [3]. The Gates camp has categorically denied the claims and described them as fabrication by a “proven, disgruntled liar,” while news organizations stressing caution note the DOJ release contains millions of pages of raw material that include unverified, redacted and draft material rather than adjudicated findings [4] [5] [1].
1. What the files actually say: salacious draft notes, not sworn testimony
The specific allegations most widely reported are drawn from two July 18, 2013 draft emails that Epstein sent to his own account, one of which — titled “bill” — accuses Gates of having sex with “Russian girls,” contracting an STI, and asking for antibiotics that could be “surreptitiously” given to Melinda; another draft, framed as a resignation letter purportedly from Boris Nikolic, says Nikolic helped “get drugs… to deal with consequences of sex with Russian girls” and facilitated “illicit trysts” [1] [6] [2].
2. How those allegations were presented by the DOJ release and the press
The Department of Justice’s mass release — more than three million pages and images made public under a transparency law — included these drafts among thousands of documents and images, but the files are raw, heavily redacted in places and contain many unsigned or self‑sent notes, not police reports or verified witness statements; multiple outlets emphasize the material is unverified and contains Epstein’s own drafting and assertions [1] [4] [3].
3. Gates’ response and competing interpretations
Bill Gates’ spokesperson has issued blunt denials, calling the claims “absolutely absurd and completely false” and characterizing the documents as evidence of Epstein’s frustration and willingness to “entrap and defame,” a line repeated by several news outlets reporting the story [4] [5] [2]. That posture frames the documents as motivated falsification by Epstein rather than reliable proof against Gates.
4. What independent verification exists — and what does not
There is no independent corroboration in the public record tying Gates to the specific STI or the alleged plan to drug or medicate Melinda; reporters and outlets consistently describe the passages as unverified draft emails and note no contemporaneous medical, legal, or testimonial evidence has been produced to substantiate those specific claims [1] [7] [8]. Where corroboration does exist in the wider Epstein record, it concerns different categories of misconduct — notably victims’ allegations of underage exploitation tied to Epstein — not the salacious personal claims about Gates found in Epstein’s drafts [1] [3].
5. Context and possible agendas driving coverage
The most sensational details have been amplified by tabloids and partisan outlets eager for explosive headlines, while legacy outlets emphasize sourcing limits and the documents’ provenance; Gates’ allies point to Epstein’s history and internal motives, and tabloids point to photos and past meetings between Gates and Epstein that are documented elsewhere in the file set, feeding public suspicion even as evidentiary standards remain unmet [9] [6] [10]. Journalistic practice requires treating draft allegations circulated by a convicted abuser as leads to investigate, not as facts to assert, and major outlets have warned readers accordingly [1] [4].
6. Bottom line for verification and how this should be read
The Epstein files add a new layer of written allegations linking Gates to misconduct in Epstein’s own notes, but the material available publicly comprises Epstein’s unverified drafts and recollections rather than independent proof; Gates has denied the claims and no public, corroborating evidence has emerged in the DOJ dump to substantiate the STI or secret‑antibiotic allegations, so the responsible reading is that these are allegations requiring further verification, not established facts [1] [4] [7].