this post was submitted on 22 Dec 2025
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If you look at his emails with Epstein, it's literally Epstein asking him about his academic work, Epstein toying with various little theories and asking Chomsky about them, etc. All above board so far. Him being on the plane is not great, but it doesn't necessarily mean he's a pedo. It opens up that possibility, but there is not proof of him doing anything wrong. Yet. I really hope he didn't do anything wrong, but it's obviously a possibility.
No matter what you think about Chomsky, he's an extremely important intellectual figure and is associated with the left. Him going down would be bad for all of us - so I hope he's not a bastard.
Spending time and discussing politics with a convicted sex trafficker as well as getting on his "Lolita express" is already wrong enough in my opinion.
We have the benefit of hindsight. It is possible Chomsky didn't know about that. Possible. Epstein knew lots of people - only some of them went to the island and not all of those went to assault kids.
It's correct to be suspicious. Even very suspicious. It is not correct to draw definite conclusions without more information. The information that we have does not implicate him in illegal stuff, so far.
Epstein was convicted of procurement of minors to engage in prostitution in 2008, Chomsky met with him in 2015. That's enough hindsight for Chomsky as well if you ask me.
I highly recommend you read On Chomsky by Roderic Day. Chomsky's a bastard and the left would be better without him, as he ultimately postures his "leftism" in manners that uphold the US Empire through cynically demonizing any real alternatives.
Thanks for the recommendation, will take a look at it. What I've read of Chomsky so far is often a critique of (mostly, but not exclusively) US Imperialism, so I'm curious what this person is arguing
His critique of US imperialism is as I said, done in a way that downplays any alternative in real life and redirects radicals towards cynicism and nihilism. His point can be summed up as "The US Empire is evil, but everyone else is worse, so we have to support it."
I will read it. Regardless, though, he is associated with the left and him going down for this would be bad PR for the left broadly, which sucks - that's my only point other than we don't know he's done anything untoward here.
In my view, it is better to tear down the "left" phrasemongers that attack socialism in action while waxxing poetic about "pure" and "ideal" socialism, and uphold actually good practicians and theorists over them.
True - I totally agree.
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