Melinda French Gates appeared on NPR’s Wild Card podcast Tuesday, emotionally addressing her past with ex-husband Bill Gates as newly released Jeffrey Epstein documents allege additional affairs and attempts to obtain medication for a sexually transmitted infection, claims a Gates spokesperson called “absolutely absurd and completely false.”

The Department of Justice recently released more than three million investigative records connected to Epstein, including personal emails. Some reports suggested Gates pursued extramarital relationships and attempted to obtain STI medication to give to his then-wife without her knowledge. A spokesperson for Gates denied the allegations outright: “These claims are absolutely absurd and completely false. The only thing these documents demonstrate is Epstein’s frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame.”

Melinda French Gates expressed heartbreak for Epstein’s victims, emphasizing society’s responsibility to address the harm done. “No girl should ever be put in the situation that they were put in by Epstein and whatever was going on with all of the various people around him. It’s beyond heartbreaking,” she said. “I remember being those ages those girls were. I remember my daughters being those ages. So for me, it’s personally hard whenever those details come up, because it brings back memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage.”

She stressed that unresolved questions regarding the allegations are for others, including her ex-husband, to answer. “Those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband. They need the answer to those things, not me! And I am so happy to be away from all the muck,” she said.

When asked about her emotional response to the Epstein-related coverage, she said simply: “Sad. Just unbelievable sadness. Unbelievable sadness.” Melinda French Gates reiterated her decision to leave both the marriage and the foundation: “I had to leave my marriage. I wanted to leave my marriage. I had to leave the foundation.” She also expressed hope for justice for the now-adult victims who have publicly shared their experiences in Washington, calling their accounts “unimaginable.”