Valeria Chomsky Confirms 'Serious Errors in Judgment' Regarding Epstein Ties
Valeria Chomsky has publicly acknowledged making serious errors in judgment concerning her and her husband Noam Chomsky's relationship with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement shared this week with The Associated Press, she expressed deep regret while clarifying that neither she nor her husband ever witnessed any inappropriate behavior during their interactions with Epstein.
Statement Expresses Solidarity with Victims
"Noam and I recognize the gravity of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and the profound suffering of his victims," Valeria Chomsky wrote. "Nothing in this statement is intended to minimize that suffering, and we express our unrestricted solidarity with the victims." The statement comes amid new revelations about the extent of the couple's ties to Epstein, following the recent release of documents by the Justice Department.
Revelations of Extensive Relationship
The friendship between Epstein and Noam Chomsky, the influential activist and pioneering linguist, has been known for several years. However, the newly released documents indicate a more extensive relationship than previously reported. They include a memo suggesting that Chomsky was advising Epstein on how to rehabilitate his public image, which has drawn criticism from admirers of Chomsky, a longtime critic of the U.S. political and media establishment.
Vijay Prashad, who has co-authored books on Cuba and the Middle East with Chomsky, released a letter last week stating he was "disgusted by Epstein's pedophilia, and so by Noam's friendship with him." This sentiment reflects broader disappointment among supporters.
Naivety and Health Challenges Cited
In her public statement, Valeria Chomsky notes that she is speaking for herself and for her husband, who is 97 and "confronting significant health challenges" since suffering a stroke in 2023. She writes that they were naive and uninformed, attributing their "serious errors in judgment" to Noam Chomsky's "overly trusting nature."
According to Valeria Chomsky, the couple first met Epstein in 2015 and were unaware at the time of his 2008 jail term for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. By 2015, accusations against Epstein had been detailed in hundreds of news articles, many alleging he paid dozens of underage girls for sex.
Epstein's Manipulative Tactics
"When we were introduced to Epstein, he presented himself as a philanthropist supporting science and a financial expert," she wrote. "By presenting himself this way, Epstein gained Noam's attention, and they began corresponding. Unknowingly, we opened a door to a Trojan horse."
Valeria Chomsky recalls that "Epstein began to encircle Noam, sending gifts and creating opportunities for interesting discussions in areas Noam has been working on extensively. We regret that we did not perceive this as a strategy to ensnare us and to try to undermine the causes Noam stands for."
Details of Their Interactions
She writes that they visited Epstein once at his ranch in New Mexico, attended dinners at his Manhattan townhouse, and stayed at his apartment a few times. The relationship was described as friendly but entirely professional, with no "children or underage individuals present" during their encounters.
Context of Epstein's Reputation Management
In emails exchanged in 2019, months before Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges and died by suicide in his jail cell, Epstein lamented his "putrid" reputation. In response, Chomsky commented on the "horrible way" Epstein had been treated by the media and advised him to ignore it. Valeria Chomsky asserts that her husband's remarks should be "read in context."
"Epstein had claimed to Noam that he (Epstein) was being unfairly persecuted, and Noam spoke from his own experience in political controversies with the media," her statement reads in part. "Epstein created a manipulative narrative about his case, which Noam, in good faith, believed in. It is now clear that it was all orchestrated, with at least one of Epstein's intentions being to have someone like Noam help repair his reputation by association."
