The Gates Foundation is investigating its ties to Jeffrey Epstein, with a focus on Dr. Melanie Walker, a Seattle doctor who worked at the foundation and had a close relationship with both Epstein and Bill Gates.
Walker, 54, has been identified as one of the people who helped Epstein ingratiate himself in Gates's world after his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution.
According to people familiar with the matter, Walker's relationship with Gates turned sexual in the summer of 2017, and she confided in Epstein about their encounters.
The Justice Department's release of Epstein files has raised questions about Walker's role in the Epstein-Gates relationship, and the Gates Foundation has launched its own probe into its Epstein ties.
Walker has claimed to have been introduced to Epstein by Donald Trump in the 1990s and has a long history of abuse, including a coercive relationship with Epstein that spanned decades.
The Gates spokesperson said Gates was not aware of the nature of the relationship between Walker and Epstein, and that the relationship between Walker and Gates was consensual and ended amicably.
However, the investigation into the Gates Foundation's ties to Epstein is ongoing, and Walker's role in the relationship is likely to come under scrutiny.
