Chomsky's close friendship with Epstein revealedA trove of documents recently released by U.S. authorities has revealed that the iconic linguist and political thinker Noam Chomsky maintained a close, friendly, and supportive relationship with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for years. The communications, which continued long after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea for soliciting a minor, show Chomsky describing their contact as a “most valuable experience” and offering Epstein advice on managing the public fallout from his crimes.
The core of the revelations is an undated letter of support for Epstein attributed to Chomsky and addressed “to whom it may concern.” In it, Chomsky writes that he and Epstein had been in “regular contact” for about six years, engaging in long discussions on a wide range of topics. He praises Epstein's intellect and global connections, recounting how Epstein once called a Norwegian diplomat during a talk about the Oslo Accords and arranged a meeting for Chomsky with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Other emails show a familiar rapport, with Chomsky's wife, Valeria, apologizing for missing Epstein's birthday and Epstein offering Chomsky the use of his apartments in New York and New Mexico.
The revelations have triggered a wave of dismay and condemnation from figures within progressive circles, most notably from Vijay Prashad, a historian who co-wrote two recent books with Chomsky. In a public statement, Prashad said he was “disgusted” and “heartsick,” stating firmly that “there is no defence for this”. Prashad highlighted the profound contradiction, noting Chomsky had once scoffed at the idea of meeting a figure like Henry Kissinger, yet willingly met with Barak—a former Israeli leader linked to military operations in Gaza—through Epstein’s facilitation. Other left-wing commentators, like journalist Matt Kennard, have called Chomsky's consorting with Epstein “unforgivable”.
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