Subject: Bill Gates Had Reputation for Questionable Behavior Before Divorce - The New York Times

From: To: Subject: Bill Gates Had Reputation for Questionable Behavior Before Divorce - The New York Times Date: Mon, 17 May 2021 11:34:33 +0000 https://vvww.nytimes.corn/2021/05/16/businessibill-melinda-gates-divorce-epstein.html Includes the assertion that Melinda Gates's decision to seek a divorce from Bill was at least in part because of her displeasure with Bill's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein: About a year after the settlement — and less than two weeks after Ms. French Gates's column in Time — The Times published an article detailing Mr. Gates's relationship with Mr. Epstein. The article reported that the two men had spent time together on multiple occasions, flying on Mr. Epstein's private jet and attending a late-night gathering at his Manhattan townhouse. "His lifestyle is very different and kind of intriguing although it would not work for me," Mr. Gates emailed colleagues in 2O11, after he first met Mr. Epstein. EFTA00099212 (Ms. Arnold, the spokeswoman for Mr. Gates, said at the time that he regretted the relationship with Mr. Epstein. She said that Mr. Gates had been unaware that the plane belonged to Mr. Epstein and that Mr. Gates had been referring to the unique decor of Mr. Epstein's home.) The Times article included details about Mr. Gates's interactions with Mr. Epstein that Ms. French Gates had not previously known, according to people familiar with the matter. Soon after its publication she began consulting with divorce lawyers and other advisers who would help the couple divide their assets, one of the people said. The Wall Street Journal previously reported the timing of her lawyers' hiring. The revelations in The Times were especially upsetting to Ms. French Gates because she had previously voiced her discomfort with her husband associating with Mr. Epstein, who died by suicide in federal custody in 2019, shortly after being charged with sex trafficking of girls. Ms. French Gates expressed her unease in the fall of 2013 after she and Mr. Gates had dinner with Mr. Epstein at his townhouse, according to people briefed on the dinner and its aftermath. (The incident was reported earlier by The Daily Beast.) For years, Mr. Gates continued to go to dinners and meetings at Mr. Epstein's home, where Mr. Epstein usually EFTA00099213 surrounded himself with young and attractive women, said two people who were there and two others who were told about the gatherings. Ms. Arnold said Mr. Gates never socialized or attended parties with Mr. Epstein, and she denied that young and attractive women participated at their meetings. "Bill only met with Epstein to discuss philanthropy," Ms. Arnold said. On at least one occasion, Mr. Gates remarked in Mr. Epstein's presence that he was unhappy in his marriage, according to people who heard the comments. Mr. Epstein pitched his tax-advisory and fund-raising services to Mr. Gates, although there is no indication that Mr. Gates did business with him, according to people familiar with Mr. Epstein's pitch and finances. EFTA00099214 Sometime after 2013, Mr. Epstein brought Mr. Gates to meet Leon Black, the head of Apollo Investments who had a multifaceted business and personal relationship with Mr. Epstein, according to two people familiar with the meeting. The meeting was held at Apollo's New York offices. It is unclear whether Ms. French Gates was aware of the latest meetings with Mr. Epstein. A person who recently spoke to her said that "she decided that it was best for her to leave her marriage as she moved into the next phase of her life." Chief Public Information Officer U.S. Attomey's Office, SDNY EFTA00099215