Co‑Author Vijay Prashad Condemns Noam Chomsky’s Ties To Jeffrey Epstein After New Documents

Vijay Prashad, a journalist, author and director of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, has publicly condemned Noam Chomsky's friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after a fresh tranche of released documents revealed correspondence between the men.

Prashad Reacts: 'Heartsick'

In a letter published Tuesday, Prashad — who co‑authored two books with Chomsky, the second of which was Chomsky's most recent book — said he was 'heartsick' to learn of the photographs and emails. 'When the photos and emails appeared, I was immediately disgusted by Epstein's paedophilia, and so by Noam's friendship with him,' Prashad wrote. 'There is no defence for this, in my view, no context that can explain this outrage.' He also said he had no knowledge of any friendship between Epstein and Chomsky while they were collaborating.

What The Documents Show

The newly released files add to earlier disclosures that suggested a social connection between Chomsky and Epstein. Among the more striking items is a 2019 message attributed to Chomsky advising a strategy of ignoring press criticism: 'The best way to proceed is to ignore it. 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.' A recipient of that message, publicist Matthew Hiltzik, responded: 'I think that is wise.'

Another recently revealed message quotes Chomsky telling Epstein he was 'fantasizing about the Caribbean island.' There is no clear evidence Chomsky was referring to Epstein's private island, which has been identified in reporting as a place where children were sexually abused.

Context And Responses

Chomsky, now 97, has previously acknowledged knowing Epstein but has described their relationship as largely financial. He has not issued a public response to the latest documents; Prashad noted that Chomsky's advanced age and health complicate any further public explanation. Valeria Chomsky, who acts as a spokesperson for the family, also did not immediately comment on the authenticity of the 2019 message attributed to Noam Chomsky.

Chomsky is professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and, according to the University of Arizona, has been on unpaid medical leave from his laureate professorship there since October 2023.

Why More Files Were Released

Interest in Epstein's network surged again after political pressure and legislative action required additional disclosures. Congress passed a bill directing the Justice Department to release more files connected to Epstein; a tranche of those records published on Friday contained the exchanges involving Chomsky.

Key Quote: Prashad wrote that he was 'heartsick' and that there is 'no defence' for Chomsky's friendship with Epstein, while the newly released documents show at least one message in 2019 in which Chomsky appears to advise ignoring press scrutiny.

The revelations have prompted renewed scrutiny of Chomsky's association with Epstein and raised questions about what collaborators and colleagues knew. Prashad's public condemnation underscores the reputational and ethical fallout for figures connected, even tangentially, to Epstein.