Recently unsealed court documents from the U.S. government’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein have revealed previously undisclosed communications between the convicted sex offender and renowned linguist Noam Chomsky. The correspondence, dating to February 2019, shows Epstein seeking strategic advice from Chomsky regarding media coverage of the sex trafficking allegations against him.
In an email exchange, Epstein characterized the press attention as “putrid” and “spiraling out of control,” specifically asking whether he should “defend myself” or “try to ignore” the growing controversy. He expressed concern that “mobs are dangerous” in reference to public opinion.
The documents include a response attributed to Chomsky that expresses sympathy for what it describes as “the horrible way” Epstein was being treated. The response lamented “the hysteria that has developed about abuse of women,” claiming it had reached such intensity that “even questioning a charge is a crime worse than murder.” The advised course of action was clear: “It’s painful to say, but I think the best way to proceed is to ignore it.”
Beyond crisis management advice, the correspondence reveals a broader relationship between Epstein and the Chomskys. The documents show discussions ranging from academic papers to personal financial matters, with Valeria Chomsky (Noam’s wife and spokesperson) seeking Epstein’s input on family financial communications with their children in a September 2017 email that stated: “We trust you.”
Epstein was arrested in July 2019 and died by apparent suicide in his Manhattan jail cell the following August while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. The released correspondence predates his final arrest but follows the Miami Herald’s groundbreaking investigative series that renewed scrutiny on Epstein’s controversial 2008 plea deal.
When contacted by the BBC for comment regarding the newly revealed emails, Valeria Chomsky has not yet responded. Previous statements from Noam Chomsky to the Wall Street Journal in 2023 characterized their relationship as occasional meetings, while simultaneously questioning the public’s interest in their association.