Noam Chomsky's Wife Admits 'Serious Errors in Judgment' Over Epstein Ties

Valeria Chomsky says she and her husband were naive and unaware of Epstein's crimes when they met him in 2015.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The wife of renowned linguist and activist Noam Chomsky has acknowledged 'serious errors in judgment' in the couple's relationship with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Valeria Chomsky says they were unaware of Epstein's criminal history when they first met him in 2015, and that Epstein manipulated them into helping rehabilitate his public image.

Why it matters

The revelations about Chomsky's ties to Epstein have shocked many of the linguist's admirers, who see it as a betrayal of his longstanding criticism of the U.S. political and media establishment. The case highlights how even prominent intellectuals can be susceptible to manipulation by wealthy and powerful individuals.

The details

According to Valeria Chomsky, she and her husband first met Epstein in 2015 and were unaware at the time of his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. Epstein presented himself as a philanthropist supporting science, and began corresponding with Noam Chomsky and creating opportunities for discussions in areas Chomsky had worked on. The Chomskys visited Epstein's ranch in New Mexico, attended dinners at his Manhattan townhouse, and stayed at his apartment, though Valeria says the relationship was entirely professional with no children or underage individuals present. However, emails show that in 2019, Epstein asked Chomsky for help rehabilitating his 'putrid' reputation, and Chomsky obliged, commenting on the 'horrible way' Epstein had been treated by the media.

  • Noam and Valeria Chomsky first met Jeffrey Epstein in 2015.
  • In 2019, months before Epstein's arrest, he exchanged emails with Chomsky lamenting his 'putrid' reputation and asking for help repairing it.
  • Noam Chomsky suffered a stroke in 2023 and is now 'confronting significant health challenges' at age 97.

The players

Noam Chomsky

A renowned linguist, philosopher, and political activist who is considered one of the most influential intellectuals of our time.

Valeria Chomsky

The wife of Noam Chomsky, who has acknowledged 'serious errors in judgment' in the couple's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein

A disgraced financier who was convicted of soliciting prostitution from an underage girl in 2008 and was later arrested on sex trafficking charges before dying by suicide in jail in 2019.

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What they’re saying

“Noam and I recognize the gravity of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and the profound suffering of his victims. Nothing in this statement is intended to minimize that suffering, and we express our unrestricted solidarity with the victims.”

— Valeria Chomsky (The Associated Press)

“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. 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.”

— Valeria Chomsky (The Associated Press)

The takeaway

This case highlights how even prominent intellectuals can be susceptible to manipulation by wealthy and powerful individuals, and underscores the need for greater scrutiny of the relationships between influential figures and those accused of serious crimes.