Noam Chomsky

A further release of files showed more familiar social exchanges with Epstein, financial advice and a message attributed to Chomsky advising Epstein to ignore media coverage of his cases. Valeria Chomsky subsequently publicly acknowledged 'grave errors of judgement' in their relationship with him.

State of the evidence

Documented

Emails released by Congress reveal regular contact, plans for dinners and trips, and a letter attributed to Chomsky describing Epstein as a highly valued friend and a source of worthwhile intellectual exchanges, substantially broadening the picture given during the 2023 revelations.

State of the evidence

Documented

Documents and statements made public in 2023 showed that Chomsky had met Jeffrey Epstein several times after Epstein's 2008 conviction and that approximately $270,000 of Chomsky's own funds had passed through an Epstein-linked account as part of a family financial arrangement.

State of the evidence

Documented

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

After being cited admiringly by Hugo Chávez for many years, Chomsky condemned the concentration of power in Venezuela and described the imprisonment of judge María Lourdes Afiuni as an attack on democracy.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

Israeli authorities prevented Chomsky from entering the West Bank from Jordan when he was due to lecture at Birzeit University, prompting international controversy over academic freedom.

During a visit to Lebanon, Chomsky agreed to meet Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, a decision criticised as lending legitimacy to an armed organisation.

State of the evidence

Documented

A Guardian interview gave the impression that Chomsky had denied or downplayed the Srebrenica massacre and that he merely regretted not having more strongly supported those who had minimised it.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

Chomsky signed a petition defending Robert Faurisson's civil rights and freedom of expression, then wrote a statement of principle on free speech that was published as the foreword to a book by the Holocaust denier, triggering enormous controversy.

State of the evidence

Documented

With Edward Herman, Chomsky criticised in 1977 the reliability of certain testimonies, figures and media coverage concerning Khmer Rouge atrocities, while describing sources documenting crimes as serious. This approach led to enduring accusations that he had minimised or rationalised the Cambodian genocide.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press