US Government Files Disclose Chomsky-Epstein Email Exchange
A newly released set of US government documents has disclosed an email exchange between American thinker Noam Chomsky and financier Jeffrey Epstein that occurred months before Epstein's arrest on child sex trafficking charges. The disclosure suggests a closer relationship between the financier and the prominent left-wing academic than was previously understood by the public.
Details of the Released Documents
The release of hundreds of pages of records, following a congressional demand for greater transparency, includes emails and memos that appear to reflect a direct, transactional relationship. These documents provide unprecedented insight into the private communications between Chomsky and Epstein, shedding light on their interactions during a critical period.
Who is Noam Chomsky?
Noam Chomsky, an American linguist, philosopher, and political theorist, is widely regarded as the father of modern linguistics and among the most influential intellectuals of the 20th and 21st centuries. Globally recognized as one of the most cited public intellectuals, Chomsky has been a vocal critic of US foreign policy, capitalism, media propaganda, imperialism, and power structures, often advocating for libertarian socialist ideas.
Content of the Email Exchanges
According to reports from AFP and The Guardian, the emails show that Chomsky privately expressed sympathy for Jeffrey Epstein over what he called the horrible way the media treated the late sex offender. In a 2019 email, Chomsky advised Epstein to keep a low profile and steer clear of media vultures, highlighting his concern about the public perception.
The exchange, disclosed in the newly released US government documents, occurred in February 2019, months before Epstein's arrest in July of that year. Epstein was found dead in his New York jail cell in August, with his death ruled a suicide.
Nature of Chomsky and Epstein's Relationship
Chomsky's connection with Epstein provided him with opportunities for shared vacations and access to well-known figures within Epstein's circle. For example, emails revealed plans for a 2016 meeting, with Epstein writing to Chomsky, Enjoyed ... (as) always. Come to New York or Caribbean? Enjoy the food. Chomsky replied, We did too, very much, adding that his wife Valeria was always keen on New York while he fantasized about the Caribbean island.
In another 2016 email, Epstein discussed being free anytime to meet up with Chomsky in New York City, noting that everyone in the city besides us will be gone. Chomsky responded that it would be great to grab dinner with Epstein and the Allens, potentially referring to film director Woody Allen and his wife, Soon-Yi Previn, though this was not explicitly clarified.
Additional Interactions and Gifts
Later in 2016, Epstein was informed by email that genetic testing kits from 23 and Me would be delivered to Woody and Soon Yi. In the spring of 2017, emails showed that arrangements were made to send the Chomskys a pair of the same tests, courtesy of Epstein, indicating ongoing exchanges of favors and gifts.
In an August 2015 email exchange, Epstein advised Chomsky to fly to Greece only if he felt well, joking that he had previously had to send a plane for another lefty friend to see a doctor in New York. The exchange also touched on academic discussions about warning signs of currency collapses, behavioral science models, and Big Data, with Epstein offering his residences for Chomsky's use, writing, you are of course welcome to use apt in new york with your new leisure time, or visit new Mexico again.
Chomsky's Sympathy and Defense
Responding to an email from Epstein seeking advice on handling his putrid press, Chomsky decried the horrible way you are being treated in the press and public. He added, What the vultures dearly want is a public response, which then provides a public opening for an onslaught of venomous attacks, many from just publicity seekers or cranks of all sorts. Chomsky, now 97, further commented on the hysteria around abuse of women, stating it had reached a point where even questioning a charge is a crime worse than murder.
Earlier-released Epstein records had already indicated that Chomsky remained in contact with him well after Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Chomsky defended this relationship, telling the Harvard Crimson in 2023, We knew that he had been convicted and served his time, which means that he re-enters society under prevailing norms.
Broader Social Ties and Implications
Other newly released emails point to the depth of Chomsky's social ties with Epstein, including a planned meet-up with Steve Bannon, a former advisor to US President Donald Trump credited as the architect of his rise to power. In a 2019 email to Bannon with Epstein copied, Chomsky's wife Valeria wrote, Jeffrey is a very dear friend, and we look forward to meeting you.
Epstein was charged with sex trafficking in 2019 and died by suicide in jail a month later. His crimes, influential connections, and death behind bars have since fueled widespread conspiracy theories and drawn intense scrutiny from online investigators searching for evidence of a cover-up, making these new disclosures particularly significant in understanding the network around him.
