The inclusion of American thinker, linguist and public intellectual Avram Noam Chomsky (b. December 7, 1928) in documents related to Jeffrey Edward Epstein (January 20, 1953 – August 10, 2019) has caused significant shock, anger and disappointment among prominent figures, especially academics and admirers, who previously viewed the former as a moral compass.

As Chomsky (97) is now bedridden due to illness, his wife Valéria Wasserman has issued a statement, admitting that both of them had contact with Epstein, the American financier, child sex offender and convicted sex trafficker. At the same time, she claimed that they initially knew nothing about sex crimes committed by Epstein. According to Valéria, they learned about sex crimes committed by Epstein through media reports after he went to prison for the second time in 2019.

Meanwhile, Valéria regretted for staying in touch with Epstein, mentioning in a statement: “We were careless in not thoroughly researching his background. This was a grave mistake, and for that lapse in judgment, I apologise on behalf of both of us. Noam shared with me, before his stroke, that he felt the same way.“

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In 2019, a woman, named Virginia Giuffre (formerly Roberts), alleged that she was trafficked, as well as sexually assaulted, by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell way back in 2001. As expected, Giuffre’s claim triggered an uproar. According to the Epstein Files, the offender sought Chomsky’s advice at that time. Based on recently-released documents (February 2026), Chomsky advised Epstein in a February 2019 email to avoid media scrutiny, referring to journalists as vultures and suggesting that a public statement would lead to an onslaught of attacks.

It was also revealed in March 2018 that approximately USD 270,000 was transferred from a bank account associated with Epstein to Chomsky. Chomsky confirmed this transaction to The Wall Street Journal and other media outlets in May 2023, explaining that it was a “pure technicality” related to moving his own funds from a previous marriage’s account, and not money originating from Epstein. Interestingly, Valéria stated: “Epstein asked Noam to develop a linguistic challenge that Epstein wished to establish as a regular prize. Noam worked on it, and Epstein sent a check for USD 20,000 as payment.” Now, the global community has started tying all these events together.

Valéria further claimed that she and Chomsky were introduced to Epstein at a professional event in 2015 when the child sex offender presented himself as a philanthropist, supporting science and a financial expert. At that time, they were unaware of his 2008 conviction. Epstein used to discuss various philosophical ideas with Chomsky to gain his trust. According to Valéria, although Epstein hosted the couple in various places, they were not involved in (or co-operated with the financier) in any criminal activity.

Commenting on Chomsky’s email to Epstein, Valéria stated that her husband’s 2019 email advising Epstein on how to respond to press criticism came after “Epstein created a manipulative narrative about his case, which Noam, in good faith, believed in“. She added: “Noam and I recognise the gravity of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes and the profound suffering of his victims. Nothing in this statement is intended to minimise that suffering, and we express our unrestricted solidarity with the victims.“

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Published by Koushik Das

Koushik Das (born on May 16, 1976 in Kolkata) is a career journalist. Based in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Koushik writes mainly about foreign policies and current geopolitical issues, and rarely about other topics. His own political ideas are highly influenced by Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, Michael Oakeshott and others. English philosopher and political theorist Oakeshott (Dec 11, 1901-Dec 19, 1990) says that “in political activity, men sail a boundless and bottomless sea. There is neither harbour for shelter nor floor for anchorage, neither starting-place, nor appointed destination. But we have to keep afloat”. (Rationalism in Politics, 1962) As a student of Political Science, Koushik loves to share his views on issues, which have great impacts on his thought process (and also on India, South Asia and of course on the global community), with his readers through his website – Boundless Ocean of Politics. By doing so, he tries to keep himself afloat. You will find some of his articles in https://inserbia.info/today/ (https://inserbia.info/today/author/kou_das13_i/), as he has been trying to assess the global geopolitics since 2003. You can also mail him at kousdas@gmail.com View all posts by Koushik Das