Newly released files from the US justice department have further detailed the close friendship between Noam Chomsky and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, undermining the linguist’s earlier claims that their relationship was primarily financial. The documents, released under a congressional transparency law, include emails showing Chomsky seeking Epstein’s advice on personal and professional matters.
In one exchange from February 2019, Epstein forwarded Chomsky’s advice to a lawyer and publicist on handling negative press: “The best way to proceed is to ignore it,” Chomsky wrote, adding that “hysteria” about abuse of women had reached a point where “even questioning a charge is a crime worse than murder.” This came 11 years after Epstein’s guilty plea for soliciting a minor and months before his death in federal custody.
Other emails reveal Chomsky fantasizing about visiting Epstein’s Caribbean island, where children were sexually abused. In 2016, Epstein invited the Chomskys to New York or the Caribbean, and Chomsky replied: “I’m really fantasizing about the Caribbean island.” The pair also discussed meeting in New York when the city would be empty.
The documents also show Chomsky contacting Steve Bannon, former White House strategist, for an introductory meeting, noting that Epstein had provided Bannon’s contact information. Additionally, Epstein’s former girlfriend Karyna Shuliak arranged to send genetic testing kits to Chomsky and his wife.
Chomsky’s financial dealings with Epstein included a $20,000 check from an Epstein associate for a linguistics challenge, and Chomsky seeking Epstein’s input on a dispute involving a $187,000 payment. Chomsky and his wife have not responded to requests for comment on the emails’ authenticity.
