Melinda French Gates isn’t mincing words as she opens up about being dragged back into one of the world’s most notorious scandals, thanks to explosive new files involving the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Bombshell documents unsealed by the US Department of Justice have stirred up a storm yet again—this time, pulling the Microsoft mogul Bill Gates squarely into the mess, and forcing his ex-wife to relive what she calls “painful times in my marriage.”

Melinda spoke candidly on NPR’s Wild Card podcast, holding nothing back when asked about her ex-husband’s name resurfacing in connection with Epstein and about highly salacious allegations contained in bureaucratic files. Visibly affected, she confessed that memories of those darker days still sting. “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,” Melinda shared, revealing just how raw this subject remains for her.

The Gateses, one of the most high-profile couples on the planet, ended their marriage in 2021 after spending nearly three decades together building the Gates Foundation and a tech empire. But before their separation hit headlines, rumors had swirled for years about Bill’s alleged connections to Epstein and the impact it had on his marriage. Now, with Epstein’s files thrust into the spotlight, old wounds are wide open once more.

The scandal traces directly back to emails and records collected from Epstein himself, who died by suicide in jail while facing federal charges for sex trafficking in 2019. Justice Department files now point to serious accusations: Epstein claimed that Bill Gates contracted a sexually transmitted disease—an assertion Bill and his team have swiftly and fiercely condemned. “These claims – from a proven, disgruntled liar – are absolutely absurd and completely false,” a spokesperson for Bill Gates declared. At this time, representatives for Gates haven’t responded to further requests for comment about Melinda’s latest remarks.

It’s important to note: Bill Gates is not accused of any criminal behavior by Epstein’s victims and, so far, his appearance in official records doesn’t directly link him to illegal actions. Still, Melinda says it’s not for her to answer for her ex’s involvement. “Whatever questions remain there of what—I can’t even begin to know all of it—those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband. They need to answer to those things, not me,” she stated, signaling she intends to keep her distance from her ex’s controversial connections.

Melinda didn’t hold back about the emotional wreckage these allegations cause. She admitted to feeling “unbelievable sadness” about the Epstein scandal and insists the individuals named must face accountability—her ex included. “I am so happy to be away from all the muck,” she said, expressing relief at putting that turbulent chapter of her life behind her.

But the bombshells don’t stop there. US media outlets previously reported that Melinda’s dissatisfaction with Bill’s friendship with Epstein brewed long before they ever publicly announced their split. Just weeks after separation news broke, Bill Gates acknowledged having an extramarital affair with a Microsoft employee back in 2019—a revelation that ignited even more tabloid frenzy. The Epstein records only fan the flames, especially with the inclusion of questionable emails allegedly drafted by Epstein himself.

Among the files are two 2013 emails, both sent from Epstein’s own account to himself—possibly intended as draft communications with Gates. In one, Epstein purports to resign from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, bizarrely bemoans a task to “procure medicine for Bill to deal with the consequences of sex with Russian girls.” The second email, starting with “dear Bill,” accuses Gates of breaking off their friendship and, even more scandalously, of attempting to “cover up a sexually transmitted infection, including from his then-wife, Melinda.” However, there’s no concrete evidence these emails ever reached Bill Gates, and neither email bears any digital signature from Gates or his known associates.

As salacious as the claims sound, Bill Gates’s representatives remain unwavering in their denials. Gates has consistently described his links to Epstein as minimal, saying he only met Epstein for “several dinners” to discuss a philanthropic initiative that ultimately fizzled out. Following this week’s shocking revelations, his spokesperson doubled down: “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.”

Despite all the swirling allegations and tabloid speculation, the files offer no hard proof of criminal acts by Gates. Instead, they pull the scab off a rocky period, forcing Melinda to revisit excruciating memories. Still, she’s standing her ground, signaling she won’t take the blame or answer for her ex-husband’s choices.

So what’s next for the Gateses as new details bubble to the surface? With the world watching, Melinda is making it clear she’s moving forward and leaving the “muck” of scandal behind. But as investigators and journalists continue to comb through the Epstein files, questions around who-knew-what-and-when are sure to spark even more drama in the weeks ahead. For Melinda, though, the message is simple—these are someone else’s questions to answer.

With one of America’s most powerful philanthropic families thrust back in the glare of public scrutiny and old scars exposed for all to see, only one thing is certain: The fallout from Epstein’s toxic legacy continues to reach far and wide, entangling even those who want nothing more than to escape its shadow. As Melinda French Gates summed up in her own words, “I am so happy to be away from all the muck.”