Bill Gates Resigned From Microsoft Board During Investigation of Alleged Affair with Employee, ReportsGates resigned before the Board's investigation was complete.

A former Microsoft engineer is alleging that she had a "sexual relationship over years with Mr. Gates," according toThe Wall Street Journal,citing sources familiar with the matter.

One Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the company received a letter about the matter in 2019, which said Gates "sought to initiate an intimate relationship with a company employee in the year 2000,"CNNreports.

Microsoft's Board then hired an outside law firm to conduct a "thorough" investigation, says the spokesperson.

However, Gates resigned before the investigation ended.

Gates' spokesperson toldThe Wall Street Journalthat the billionaire's departure from the company wasn't because of the relationship.

"There was an affair almost 20 years ago which ended amicably. Bill's decision to transition off the board was in no way related to this matter. In fact, he had expressed an interest in spending more time on his philanthropy starting several years earlier," the source said.

This weekend'sWSJstory follows an earlier reportbyThe New York Timeswhich said that Gates "pursued women who worked for him at Microsoft and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation" on a "few" occasions.The New York Timescited "people with direct knowledge with overtures" but didn't provide any names.

Last week the billionaire couple announced their pending divorce onsocial media.

Melinda's divorce petition filed in King County, Washington, reportedly says the marriage is "irretrievably broken."