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Epstein consulted Chomsky amid media scrutiny
Disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein turned to linguist Noam Chomsky in early 2019 for guidance on responding to mounting allegations of sex trafficking, newly released documents reveal.
Email exchange details Epstein's plea for advice
In February 2019, Epstein emailed Chomsky, describing media coverage of the allegations against him as "putrid" and "spiralling out of control." He asked whether he should "defend myself," publish an op-ed, or "try to ignore," acknowledging that "mobs are dangerous."
The response, attributed to Chomsky, advised Epstein to avoid public engagement. "What the vultures dearly want is public response, which then provides a public opening for an onslaught of venomous attacks," the email stated. It also criticized the "hysteria that has developed about abuse of women," calling it a climate where "even questioning a charge is a crime worse than murder."
Broader correspondence revealed
The documents, part of the U.S. government's investigation into Epstein, show multiple exchanges between Epstein, Chomsky, and Chomsky's wife, Valeria. Topics ranged from academic discussions to personal financial advice. In one 2017 email, Valeria Chomsky sought Epstein's input on a letter to their children about family finances, writing, "We trust you."
Previous releases of Epstein-related files also included correspondence between the two men. Chomsky had previously acknowledged occasional meetings with Epstein but dismissed inquiries about their relationship as "none of your business." In a 2023 interview with the Wall Street Journal, he stated, "I knew him and we met occasionally."
Context of the allegations
Epstein's email to Chomsky came as the Miami Herald published a series of investigative reports into his 2008 plea deal, which allowed him to avoid federal sex trafficking charges. He was arrested again in July 2019 and died in his New York jail cell a month later while awaiting trial.
Response and implications
The BBC has reached out to Valeria Chomsky, who serves as Noam Chomsky's spokesperson, for comment on the newly released emails. The documents do not suggest any wrongdoing on Chomsky's part.
"First response is that it is none of your business. Or anyone's. Second is that I knew him and we met occasionally."
Noam Chomsky, in a 2023 Wall Street Journal interview
