Topline
Jeffrey Epstein paid $150,000 to Bard College president Leon Botstein and moved $270,000 for linguistics professor Noam Chomsky, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday, shedding further light on the relationship between the late, disgraced financier and major academics, who met with him multiple times after he was a registered sex offender.
Professor and political activist Noam Chomsky met with Epstein several times after he was a … [+]
Key Facts
Botstein received a $150,000 check from Epstein in 2016, which Botstein later donated to Bard College as part of a $1 million gift, he told the Journal.
Epstein paid Botstein the funds as compensation for serving a year on an advisory board for Gratitude America—Epstein’s charity foundation which he used to divert funds and generate tax benefits—a spokesperson for Bard told the Forbes in a statement.
Botstein, 76, who has served as president of Bard College in New York since 1975, previously told the Journal he had not received any donations from Epstein besides an unsolicited $75,000 gift in 2011, calling it a “blessing in disguise” Bard never received more money from the convicted sex offender.
He says he forgot about the 2016 gift because that payment was made out as compensation for consulting, not a gift.
Chomsky, 94, who has authored more than 150 books and is a professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said he asked Epstein for financial advice after his first wife died, which resulted in Epstein transfering $270,000 for Chomsky.
The academic called the move “quick” and “simple,” and emphasized he did not receive funds from Epstein (Forbes has reached out to Chomsky for comment).
Crucial Quote
When the Journal first asked Chomsky about his connection with Epstein, he replied by email, “First response is that it is none of your business. Or anyone’s. Second is that I knew him and we met occasionally.”
Key Background
Both Chomsky and Botstein met with Epstein dozens of times, they confirmed to the Journal for an April report, placing them among scores of prominent figures who met with the financier after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution. Epstein was charged with sex trafficking and died by suicide in jail while awaiting a trial in 2019. In 2015 and 2016, Epstein arranged several meetings with Chomsky and other academics like Harvard University professor Martin Nowak, according to documents obtained by the Journal and confirmation from Chomsky. The meetings were to discuss academic topics like geopolitics and neuroscience, often including world leaders like former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak (Chomsky is a noted critic of Israel). Chomsky said he participated in the meetings despite knowing Epstein was a convicted sex offender because he knew he had served his sentence and “according U.S. laws and norms, that yields a clean slate.” Through his work on linguistics, philosophy and politics, Chomsky’s ideas have been influential in anti-capitalist, ant-war and anti-imperialist movements. Botstein had two dozen scheduled meetings with Epstein, over about four years. “Had the extent and horror of Epstein’s crimes been known, Bard would not have accepted his support,” a spokesperson for the college told Forbes in an emailed statement.
Further Reading
Jeffrey Epstein Moved $270,000 for Noam Chomsky and Paid $150,000 to Leon Botstein (Wall Street Journal)
Epstein’s Private Calendar Reveals Prominent Names, Including CIA Chief, Goldman’s Top Lawyer (Wall Street Journal)
Jeffrey Epstein Lawsuit: Musk Subpoenaed As Case Embroils Another Billionaire (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/katherinehamilton/2023/05/17/jeffrey-epstein-moved-money-for-noam-chomsky-paid-bard-president-botstein-150000-report-says/