# I found out over this past weekend, my name is listed in the Epstein Files **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 18, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797 "2026-02-18T18:33:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/1 "2026-02-18T18:33:32Z")
Before the rush to judgement, I never met him, did business with him, traveled on his jet, visited his island, never been in the same proximity as him. My name is listed in what appears to be a contact list, which includes several other people that I worked with between 2010 and 2013. We were investment professionals that invested ultra high net worth families and individuals money. My name and title are listed, and what appears to be my work address, phone number and email address have been redacted. I have no idea how our names ended up in his files. Although, I’m not surprised that he would have had it, as we successfully advised several billionaire families during that time. This is all a bit disconcerting to me, due to many people making the assumption that if you are in the release that you are guilty by association. My wife finds my situation very interesting and funny. I guess I see the humor in it as well. I asked a couple of AI models for advise with responses ranging from “don’t worry” to “obtain criminal defense representation” just to be safe! At a minimum, I’ve got a new addition for when I play 2 Truths and a Lie. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/2 "2026-02-18T18:35:32Z")
This is why I dislike the “\_\_\_\_\_\_ was in the Epstein files” on Reddit and social media as an automatic tag of guilt. A whole lot of innocent people were bound to interact with him. I mean, I’m sure innocent people interacted with Osama bin Laden, too. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/3 "2026-02-18T18:43:45Z")
So, your Epstein Number is 2? (You did business with someone who did business with Epstein.) ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/4 "2026-02-18T18:44:16Z")
Your description is one of my problems with this whole subject. It is a “signal to noise” problem. There is obviously (to me, anyway) “noise” (random information), which I believe is being used to drown out the “signal” (people doing bad things). How can anyone hope to focus on one thread for investigation when there is literally 1,000,000 threads. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/5 "2026-02-18T18:44:18Z")
I have no idea, but likely. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/6 "2026-02-18T18:44:46Z")
On a recent show, Bill Maher mentioned that Noam Chomsky was in the Epstein files. He didn’t go into detail and I don’t know the context, but this sure took me by surprise. Chomsky is one of the most distinguished academics of our generation – typically associated with linguistics but also working at the intersection of linguistics and cognitive science, and a strong activist for progressive causes. It would be astonishing if this great man was genuinely part of the Epstein cesspool. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/7 "2026-02-18T18:56:54Z")
80% of the people on stage in a recent episode of _Have I Got News for You_ are mentioned in the Epstein files: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/jrLuCxrtyPI/maxresdefault.jpg "Comedians guess who on the panel is and is not in the Epstein files | Have I Got News For You") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrLuCxrtyPI&t=22) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/8 "2026-02-18T19:21:03Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > It would be astonishing if this great man was genuinely part of the Epstein cesspool. [Bad news, I’m afraid.](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/03/epstein-files-noam-chomsky) > [@](#): > > Perhaps most strikingly, in late February 2019, Epstein represented to an associate that he had gotten advice from Chomsky over how to navigate “the horrible way you are being treated in the press and public”. That was 11 years after Epstein had pleaded guilty to soliciting an underage girl for prostitution – and months before he would reportedly die by suicide while in federal custody awaiting sex-trafficking charges. > > “The best way to proceed is to ignore it,” Chomsky wrote, according to text signed under his first name that Epstein sent to a lawyer and publicist. “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.” No evidence of criminal activity on Chomsky’s part, at least so far, but not a good look for him. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/9 "2026-02-18T19:47:23Z")
Wow! That hits close to home, because my older brother, a university professor, years ago took a sabbatical at MIT where he worked in close collaboration with Chomsky and the two become good friends. My brother told me that on his departure, Chomsky thanked him and said “I’ve learned so much from you”. So it really disgusts me to see that picture of Chomsky sitting beside Epstein on his private jet. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/10 "2026-02-18T20:00:59Z")
Like many smart folks who got famous for being smart, he then got wacky too. If you only knew about his early work, you’d think he was a good human and a great savant in his field. I can assure you that the farther along in his history you read, the less you will like. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/11 "2026-02-18T20:10:22Z")
Do you have a cite for Chomsky going off the rails? I’m not questioning your observation, I’m genuinely curious. My brother seemed to regard him as a valued colleague. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/12 "2026-02-18T20:21:38Z")
“Seemed”. When was that collaboration? Time runs right along. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/13 "2026-02-18T20:23:04Z")
I don’t have one handy, but I’ve seen lots of examples. He’s gotten politically weird, for instance. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/14 "2026-02-18T20:23:29Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > This is all a bit disconcerting to me I bet! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/15 "2026-02-18T20:31:51Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Seemed”. When was that collaboration? Time runs right along. Definitely many decades ago, sometime in the late part of the last century. My brother had a later sabbatical at Stanford that must have been in the late 70s because I remember the association with the Alto and Xerox Park so this must have been even earlier than that. JFC, are we all getting old! ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/16 "2026-02-18T21:01:49Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > I asked a couple of AI models for advise And how old _were_ these AI models…? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/17 "2026-02-19T01:38:49Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > sometime in the late part of the last century. Please don’t say it like that. 😬 ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/18 "2026-02-19T07:25:18Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > > [@wolfpup](#): > > > > sometime in the late part of the last century. > > Please don’t say it like that. 😬 Yeah. The proper way to say that is: > [@](#): > > _mumble mumble_ ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/19 "2026-02-19T07:36:15Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > > [@wolfpup](#): > > > > sometime in the late part of the last century. > > Please don’t say it like that. 😬 Face it, many of us are old, dammit! Some of us were already having a midlife crisis when the 20th century turned into the 21st! ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797/20 "2026-02-19T08:29:19Z")
For what it’s worth I might also be in the Epstein files (I have not searched yet). I am a contributor to the Quora site, under my IRL name, and Epstein also was, and he subscribed to the digests from that site. The names of large number of frequent contributors to the English-language version of Quora are in the digest e-mails that Epstein received. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-out-over-this-past-weekend-my-name-is-listed-in-the-epstein-files/1027797.md?page=2)