Rabia Iclal Turan
31 January 2026•Update: 01 February 2026
WASHINGTON
The US Justice Department released draft emails Friday written by late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that include unverified claims involving Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and other high-profile figures.
The documents, part of the latest tranche of files related to the Epstein investigation, indicate that Gates contracted a sexually transmitted disease from “Russian girls” during a visit to his private island, Little Saint James.
The files said the tech billionaire allegedly sought antibiotics without his wife’s knowledge after the incident, according to a draft email written by Epstein.
The claims appear in emails Epstein wrote to himself in July 2013, addressed to “Bill.”
In the email, Epstein alleged that Gates asked him to obtain “antibiotics” that could be given “surreptitiously” to his then-wife, Melinda Gates, amid fears he had contracted an STD (sexually transmitted disease) following encounters with Russian girls.
“During the past few weeks I have been caught up in a severe marital dispute between Melinda and Bill,” Epstein wrote in the email.
He claimed that, as Gates’ “right hand,” he had been asked on multiple occasions to take part in actions that were “morally inappropriate” and “ethically unsound,” and at times “near and potentially over the line into the illegal.”
“From helping Bill to get drugs, in order to deal with consequences of sex with russian girls, to facilictating [sic] his illicit trysts, with married women, to being asked to provide adderall [for] bridge [tournaments] . I feel I owe it to my friends and futre [sic] colleagues to admit a moral failure , to ask forgiveness and to move on with my life,” Epstein wrote.
It remains unclear whether the messages were ever sent to Gates or reflect verified events.
“These claims are absolutely absurd and completely false,” a spokesperson for Gates was quoted by several media outlets.
Gates has previously acknowledged meeting Epstein but described the association as a “huge mistake.”
The emails were part of more than 3 million documents released from federal investigations into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Elon Musk to Epstein: ‘When should we head to your island?’
The documents also include email exchanges between Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Epstein discussing possible meetings.
In a November 2012 email, Epstein asked Musk about sending a helicopter to his private island, writing, “How many people will you be for the heli to island.”
Musk replied that he would need two seats, for himself and his then-partner, actress Tallulah Riley, and asked, “What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?”
In a December 2013 email, Musk wrote that he would be in the British Virgin Islands and asked if there was “a good time to visit” Epstein island.
Epstein responded that there was “always space for you.”
Besides these figures, the files also include documents mentioning US President Donald Trump.
