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Billionaire Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has repeatedly claimed that he’s “only had dinner” with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
However, Gates’ wife Melinda of 27 years divorced him over his relationship with “abhorrent” Epstein.
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The dark truth is beginning to surface as The Wall Street Journal reported that Gates had an alleged affair with Russian bridge player Mila Antonova in 2010.
In an email in 2017, Epstein threatened to expose Gates over the affair.
Gates met Antonova in 2010 at a bridge competition, which led to alleged romance.
Epstein had paid for Antonova to attend coding classes and he wanted Gates to reimburse him.
Gates reportedly interpreted this 2017 email as a blackmail threat to expose his 2010 affair.
A spokesperson for Gates said that he never paid up over the threat and that he had “no financial dealings” with Epstein.
Antonova declined to comment to The Wall Street on her alleged relationship with Gates.
Antonova acknowledged that she was on friendly terms with Gates during a 2010 video about her love of bridge.
In an email from 2011, Gates admitted that he found Epstein’s lifestyle “very different” and “kind of intriguing.” After 27 years of marriage, Melinda Gates said Bill’s connection with the “abhorrent” Epstein led to their divorce.
Gates reportedly met with Epstein on numerous occasions, including at least three times at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse. During one occasion, the two billionaires stayed up late into the night.
Prior to spending time together, Epstein had already plead guilty and was convicted in 2008 of procuring a 14-year-old child for prostitution and of soliciting a prostitute. He served almost 13 months in custody.
This plea deal was controversial because Epstein plead guilty to only two crimes while federal officials had identified 36 girls whom Epstein had allegedly sexually abused. In 2019, Epstein was arrested again on federal charges for the sex trafficking of minors in Florida and New York.
A spokeswoman for Gates, identified as Bridgitt Arnold, is accused of attempting to spin the meaning of this email. Arnold says Gates “was referring only to the unique décor of the Epstein residence.”
“It was in no way meant to convey a sense of interest or approval,” she added, although this doesn’t fully explain why Gates would have found it “intriguing.”
Gates reportedly met with Epstein on numerous occasions, including at least three times at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse. During one occasion, the two billionaires stayed up late into the night.
“And unlike many others, Mr. Gates started the relationship after Mr. Epstein was convicted of sex crimes,” the report explains.”Employees of Mr. Gates’s foundation also paid multiple visits to Mr. Epstein’s mansion.”
“And Mr. Epstein spoke with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and JPMorgan Chase about a proposed multibillion-dollar charitable fund — an arrangement that had the potential to generate enormous fees for Mr. Epstein.”
Gates now says it was “a huge mistake” to meet with Epstein. “At the time, I didn’t realize that by having those meetings it would be seen as giving him credibility,” Gates told The Times. “You’re almost saying, ‘I forgive that type of behavior,’ or something. So clearly the way it’s seen, I made a huge mistake not understanding that.”
