Epstein Files Reveal His Embrace of Race Science & Its Resurgence

In February 2016, Jeffrey Epstein, already a convicted sex offender, extended an invitation to Noam Chomsky, the prominent left-wing public intellectual, to his private island. Accompanying the invitation was a recommendation: an article titled “Race and IQ: Genes That Predict Racial Intelligence Differences” from The Right Stuff, a website openly identified as white supremacist and a foundational platform for the alt-right. Epstein framed the recommendation by stating he was responding to Chomsky’s encouragement to “look at data, no holds barred,” suggesting a shared intellectual curiosity, however misguided.

The exchange, recently surfaced in the latest release of the Epstein files by the Department of Justice, offers a stark illustration of the disgraced financier’s deep and troubling interest in “race science”—the pseudoscientific practice of attempting to justify racial inequities through genetics. This line of thinking, repeatedly debunked by geneticists, biologists, and anthropologists, posits a biological basis for differences in intelligence between racial groups. The core argument, as presented in the article Epstein shared, suggests that inherent genetic disparities explain observed differences, ignoring the significant impact of cultural and circumstantial factors on IQ.

Epstein’s fascination with these discredited theories wasn’t a one-time occurrence. The released files reveal a sustained effort to connect with figures who’ve promoted similar ideas. In 2018, he repeatedly attempted to contact Charles Murray, the political scientist whose 1994 book, The Bell Curve, remains a controversial text for its arguments linking intelligence and race. Epstein didn’t specify the purpose of his outreach, only claiming they had met previously. Murray, however, stated in an email that he doesn’t recall receiving any direct communication from Epstein, though he conceded a possible fleeting encounter at a conference reception.

While Epstein’s crimes—specifically, his conviction for sex offenses and subsequent charges of sex trafficking—are undeniably horrific, his embrace of race science is particularly noteworthy given his extensive network of powerful and influential contacts. The newly revealed correspondence provides a glimpse into how these ideas, long relegated to the fringes, were being reanimated and circulated within elite circles.

Epstein’s ideological alignment with figures like James Watson, the Nobel Prize-winning geneticist stripped of his titles in 2019 for doubling down on racist comments, is also highlighted in the files. Watson, in a 2007 interview, expressed his “gloomy” outlook on Africa, attributing it to perceived intellectual inferiority. Epstein reportedly sought out Watson specifically because of these views, suggesting a shared intellectual kinship. In his 2016 email to Chomsky, Epstein alluded to the need to accept “uncomfortable facts” about race and intelligence, a sentiment Chomsky disputed, though he continued a relationship with Epstein even after allegations of sexual abuse surfaced.

The interest wasn’t limited to established figures. Epstein also engaged in discussions with Joscha Bach, an AI researcher, in the same year. Bach, in emails to Epstein, made claims about slower cognitive development in Black children and suggested a correlation between brain size and intelligence differences between men and women. Bach has since publicly distanced himself from these views, stating in a recent Substack post that he doesn’t believe in inherent cognitive differences between races and emphasizing the importance of avoiding discrimination based on ancestry. He clarified that the concept of race is not suitable for capturing cognitive and behavioral differences.

Further names surfacing in Epstein’s communications include Steven Pinker, a Harvard professor who has written about research suggesting innate intelligence among Ashkenazi Jews, and Richard Dawkins, who has made statements asserting the biological reality of race. Pinker has disavowed Epstein and denied visiting his island, though he acknowledged attending events where Epstein was present. Dawkins did not respond to requests for comment.

The resurgence of race science in recent years, particularly on the right and within certain Silicon Valley circles, is a disturbing trend. Elon Musk, for example, has repeatedly engaged with accounts promoting these ideas, including one that posted statistics purportedly demonstrating the inferiority of Black people. His Wikipedia competitor, Grokipedia, was also found to contain perspectives defending race science. Similarly, figures like Charlie Kirk and Tucker Carlson have interviewed Steve Sailer, a prominent proponent of these theories, and former President Trump has alluded to similar concepts, even suggesting that some migrants are genetically inferior. During a Cabinet meeting in December, Trump made disparaging remarks about Somalis, stating he “doesn’t want them in our country,” while his administration targeted Somalis in Minnesota for deportation.

The appeal of these ideas, however pseudoscientific, likely stems from their ability to provide a seemingly objective justification for existing power structures. For someone like Epstein, who viewed women as disposable, and for those who benefit from societal inequalities, the notion of inherent biological differences can serve as a convenient rationale for maintaining the status quo. The Epstein files, offer a chilling reminder of the dangerous intersection between wealth, power, and discredited ideologies, and the potential for these ideas to resurface and influence contemporary political discourse.