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SEATTLE — Melinda Gates began talks with divorce lawyers in 2019 over concerns of Bill Gates’ ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal on Sunday.
She is reported to have been to speaking with attorneys as early as October 2019, well before the announcement of her split with Bill Gates last week, saying the marriage was “irretrievably broken.”
According to a report from the New York Times in October 2019, Bill Gates had met with Epstein several times, including staying late at his New York townhouse.
A spokesperson for Microsoft said the meetings were related to philanthropy.
Epstein died in jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges related to sex trafficking.
The Gates fortune is estimated to be $145 billion.
Legal teams have been working with a mediator to divide their wealth; however, they plan on remaining co-chairs and trustees of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Cox Media Group
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