Melinda French Gates said she trusted her instincts when it came to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, recalling an uneasy reaction to him and urging others to pay attention to their feelings about people they encounter.

In an interview with The Guardian published this week, French Gates reflected on her past encounters with Epstein and described him as someone she immediately viewed with suspicion.

Asked whether she had ever been around someone she believed was evil, French Gates pointed to Epstein, the financier whose associations with powerful figures and subsequent criminal cases drew international scrutiny.

"We need to listen to our feelings about people," French Gates told the newspaper.

The topic appeared to stir strong emotions, according to The Guardian, which reported that French Gates considered ending the interview as she discussed Epstein.

"My heart is racing," she said while looking out the window of her Seattle home with her hand on her chest, according to the report.

French Gates' comments revisit a subject that has remained a source of public attention since her 2021 divorce from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. In previous interviews, she has acknowledged concerns about her former husband's meetings with Epstein after the financier had already pleaded guilty to sex-related charges involving a minor.

French Gates has previously said she met Epstein once and regretted doing so.

At the time, she described the encounter as deeply unsettling and said she made her feelings known to her then-husband.

Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide. The case fueled years of scrutiny over his relationships with prominent political, business and cultural figures, many of whom faced questions about the nature of their interactions with him.

In the Guardian interview, French Gates did not elaborate on specific encounters with Epstein but emphasized the importance of trusting personal instincts.

Her comments came during a broader discussion about relationships, judgment and lessons learned through personal and professional experiences.

French Gates, a philanthropist and advocate for women's issues, has increasingly spoken publicly in recent years about major turning points in her life, including her divorce, leadership in philanthropy and the challenges of navigating difficult personal decisions.