The intellectual giant Noam Chomsky, revered for his moral clarity on global injustices, is facing a reckoning closer to home. Newly released Department of Justice files have shattered his previous defense regarding his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, revealing a bond that was far more personal and persistent than previously admitted.

The documents, part of a massive tranche of investigative records, show Chomsky exchanging emails with Epstein that range from the mundane to the bizarre. In one exchange, the linguist appears to discuss "fantasizing" about Epstein’s Caribbean island—the very epicenter of the trafficking ring—though there is no evidence he visited for illicit purposes. More damning, however, is the advice Chomsky dispensed in 2019, telling Epstein that the "best way to proceed" regarding the "hysteria" about abuse allegations was to "ignore it."

This revelation contradicts Chomsky’s earlier assertions that his dealings with Epstein were strictly financial and academic. The image of the world’s leading public intellectual strategizing with a convicted pedophile on how to manage his public relations crisis is a jarring fall from grace.

The "Hysteria" Comment

Chomsky’s characterization of the #MeToo movement and the outcry over Epstein’s crimes as "hysteria" is particularly damaging. In the emails, he wrote, "That’s particularly true now with the hysteria that has developed about abuse of women, which has reached the point that even questioning a charge is a crime worse than murder."

• The Bannon Connection: The files also reveal that Epstein facilitated an introduction between Chomsky and Steve Bannon, Donald Trump’s former strategist. Chomsky emailed Bannon saying there was "lots to talk about," a meeting of minds that seems politically incongruous.
• Genetic Testing Kits: In a bizarre twist, Epstein’s girlfriend Karyna Shuliak discussed sending genetic testing kits to Chomsky and his wife, hinting at a level of social intimacy that goes beyond mere acquaintance.
• The Advice: Offering PR advice to a man who had already pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor in 2008 suggests a profound ethical lapse or a willful blindness to the nature of Epstein’s crimes.

Chomsky has yet to respond to these specific revelations, but his silence is becoming deafening. The files paint a picture of a man who, despite his immense intellect, allowed himself to be courted by wealth and power, ignoring the screams of the victims in the background.

A Legacy Tarnished?

For decades, Chomsky has been the moral compass for the left. These revelations do not negate his academic contributions, but they cast a long shadow over his judgment. How could a man who dissects propaganda with such precision fail to see the monster standing right in front of him?

As the Epstein files continue to drop, they spare no one. From princes to presidents, and now to philosophers, the web of complicity exposes a global elite that chose to look the other way. Chomsky, it seems, was no exception.