Asger Risom
The prominent Silicon Valley figure is revisiting a controversial chapter from his past.
The prominent Silicon Valley figure is revisiting a controversial chapter from his past, recounting how a brief fundraising trip brought him into direct contact with Jeffrey Epstein. The remarks came during a recent podcast interview in which he described the experience as a warning he wishes he’d heeded sooner.
His remarks revive questions about Epstein’s reach and the institutions that once entertained his support.
Early missteps
LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman said he spent one night on Epstein’s private island while seeking donations for the MIT Foundation, according to Business Insider. Speaking on Eric Newcomer’s podcast, he explained that he had been told Epstein was more likely to give if Hoffman attended events he was at.
“Note to self, Google before going,” Hoffman said, describing the property’s pool, guest rooms and courtyard.
Lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee recently released imagery of Little Saint James, the U.S. Virgin Islands site where Epstein hosted visitors.
Networked influence
Hoffman stressed that his interactions with Epstein were tied strictly to MIT Media Lab fundraising, adding that Epstein operated as a “masterful networker.”
He recounted a 2015 dinner he hosted in Palo Alto at the request of Joi Ito, then the Media Lab’s director, who asked if Epstein could join. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Tesla CEO Elon Musk also attended, a fact their spokespeople previously confirmed to Business Insider.
Hoffman said he later learned Epstein used such appearances to signal that he would be more inclined to donate.
Public reckoning
Hoffman repeated earlier apologies for associating with Epstein. In a 2019 email to Axios, he acknowledged multiple contacts, saying he understood them to be fundraising-related and believed MIT had cleared Epstein’s involvement. He said then that he was “deeply regretful.”
On the podcast, he added that he severed ties before issuing his public apology, declining Epstein’s occasional messages. He argued that justice for victims remains paramount and urged the release of “every single piece of intel that they have about Epstein.”
Political fallout
Business Insider reported that President Donald Trump recently signed a law compelling the Justice Department to disclose its Epstein files by December 19 after sustained congressional pressure. Trump has also ordered the DOJ to examine Hoffman and several other figures, including former President Bill Clinton and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, over their links to Epstein.
Hoffman, a major Democratic donor, has said he hired security after Elon Musk amplified conspiracy theories about his past interactions with the financier.
Sources: Newcomer Podcast
