Microsoft says it warned Bill Gates for flirtatious emails to female employee in 2008: Report

This happened in 2008, according to an AP report. It was first reported by The Wall Street Journal that Brad Smith, then Microsoft's general counsel and now its President and vice-chair and another executive met with Gates after the company found inappropriate emails to a mid-level employee.

The newspaper reported that Gates didn’t deny the communication, and Microsoft board members who were briefed on them found further action unnecessary as there wasn’t any physical interaction between Gates and the employee.

The AP report said Microsoft declined to comment on Monday but confirmed the Journal’s reporting.

However, Gates’ private office said in a written statement that “these claims are false, recycled rumours from sources who have no direct knowledge, and in some cases have significant conflicts of interest”, the report stated and added that it declined further comment.

In 2019, Microsoft had to hire a law firm to investigate a letter from an engineer who said she had a sexual relationship with Gates over several years, an allegation similar to what was reported in 2008.

That investigation was before Gates’ departure from Microsoft’s board last year, but didn’t come to light publicly until after Bill and Melinda French Gates announced in May they had decided to end their marriage of 27 years.

The divorce was completed in August.

The former couple continues to run the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation jointly.