The recent release of documents pertaining to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, identified as the Epstein Files — was released on January 31, 2026. The documents represent a vast collection of over three million pages of material provided to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).
Among the most shocking of the documents released in connection with Epstein’s case are those alleging that Microsoft founder Bill Gates contracted a sexually transmitted disease from “Russian girls,” and sought to provide his then-wife, Melinda French Gates with antibiotics for treatment of their infection.
These alarming insinuations, however, came from Epstein’s own draft emails to himself in 2013, rather than from credible evidence in the form of sworn witness testimony or credible news reporting.
Origin of the Allegations
The specific allegations about Gates and the potential STDs resulted from discussions in Epstein’s own documents. In one of the drafts, Epstein made the allegation that Gates was worried about having an STD, and wanted to provide Melinda with antibiotics “quietly.” Epstein went on to criticize Gates for ending their friendship and for being involved in the same kind of activities prior to the dissolution of their friendship.
It should be noted that Epstein created these draft emails for himself and thus they were written from his email account to himself, so there is no evidence of any kind that verifies his claims against Gates. There is no evidence supporting this STD claim in the form of medical documentation or corroborating reports, nor has there been any law enforcement investigation.
According to the DOJ
The DOJ has stated that their review of the released material will include a large volume of documents that contain false, misleading or unverifiable information and has cautioned that being included in the Epstein files is not necessarily an indication of truth or a criminal act.
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Gates’ Response
Bill Gates’ representatives have vigorously denied all allegations against him, with a spokesperson calling the claims “ridiculous” and “entirely fabricated” and noted that they are nothing more than the expression of Epstein’s personal dissatisfaction with Gates following their brief connection. In addition, Gates has publicly stated that he regrets ever meeting Epstein and denies any wrongdoing or involvement with Epstein’s illegal activities.
Important Context
Expert sources and fact-checkers have indicated that:
- The allegation of STD was based solely on Epstein’s draft notes, and not actual verifiable documents.
- There is no independent evidence to support or otherwise verify this allegation.
- There were no charges, no medical records, and no law enforcement findings linking Gates to the health issue referred to in the above allegation.
- Many of the documents contained within the Epstein Files were submitted to the DOJ unverified and/or have the potential of being fabricated.
- In light of this, the above claim should be treated as unverified and not as established fact.
The sensational meme story about Bill Gate’s “exposing himself to sexually transmitted diseases from Russian women” originates from unsubstantiated draft emails contained within documents released regarding Jeffrey Epstein; no confirmations have been found regarding this claim. Furthermore, Gates has publicly denied these allegations. However, authorities encourage caution when interpreting any of the statements made within those drafts as factual.
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