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Born in United States · Nationality American — Technology / documented relationship

Reid Hoffman

Business and billionaires Arts, letters and intellectuals

Documented profile covering 11 controversies, including “2017–2018: indirect funding of Project Birmingham and disinformation campaign during Alabama Senate election” and “2013–2015: repeated meetings with Epstein after his conviction during MIT fundraising”.

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Profile No. 1313 · Updated on 12 October 2026

11Documented controversies

12Sources

0Formal charge · all time

0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

2026-05

May 2026: federal investigation into American Future Republic and funding of E. Jean Carroll's lawsuits

Investigation

The DOJ examined American Future Republic, an organisation supported by Hoffman which had helped finance E. Jean Carroll's civil actions against Donald Trump. The investigation was described as exploring, among other matters, theories of money laundering or obstruction.

Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
The GuardianBillionaire supporter of E Jean Carroll says inquiry meant to ‘silence’ Trump criticsPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 10 September 2026

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2013–2018; révélation 2026-03

March 2026: new DOJ documents show longer and more personal Epstein relationship than initially portrayed publicly

No legal proceedings

DOJ documents examined by Bloomberg showed that the Hoffman–Epstein relationship was not limited to a few fundraising exchanges: the men exchanged gifts, and Hoffman stayed on Epstein's island and at his Manhattan home. The documents also extend the chronology beyond Hoffman's original public account.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
BloombergHow Jeffrey Epstein Used Reid Hoffman to Court Silicon Valley’s ElitePressHigh reliability

Last verified: 10 September 2026

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2026-06–2026-07

2026: $10 million donation to super PAC supporting James Talarico despite his campaign against major donor influence

No legal proceedings

Hoffman donated $10 million to the principal super PAC backing Democrat James Talarico in the Texas Senate race, following earlier, smaller contributions. The donation accounted for nearly 80% of the PAC's quarterly receipts and created political tension with Talarico's message about reducing wealthy donors' influence in politics.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
The Texas TribuneBillionaire Reid Hoffman gives $10 million to super PAC backing Talarico’s Senate bid in TexasNGOHigh reliability

Last verified: 10 September 2026

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2025-11-14

November 2025: Trump asks DOJ to examine Hoffman's Epstein ties

Investigation

Donald Trump asked the Department of Justice to examine Epstein's links with several figures, including Reid Hoffman.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
ReutersTrump says he will ask Justice Department to probe Epstein ties with Bill Clinton and othersPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 10 September 2026

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2024-07

July 2024: 'actual martyr' remark about Trump before assassination attempt, followed by clarification and regret

No legal proceedings

During an exchange with Peter Thiel, Hoffman said that he wished he had made Donald Trump an 'actual martyr'. The phrase became highly controversial after the assassination attempt against Trump several days later.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
The Washington PostBiden donor Reid Hoffman splits with top adviser over strategic differencesPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 10 September 2026

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2024-07-14–2024-07-19

July 2024: split with adviser Dmitri Mehlhorn after email suggesting Trump assassination attempt may have been staged

No legal proceedings

Dmitri Mehlhorn, Hoffman's chief political adviser, sent journalists a message speculating that the attempt on Trump's life might have been 'staged'. The incident prompted apologies and then the professional separation of Hoffman and Mehlhorn.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Direct responsibility

Sources · 2

[1]
SemaforTop Democratic strategist pushed reporters to consider ‘staged’ shootingPressHigh reliability
[2]
The Washington PostBiden donor Reid Hoffman splits with top adviser over strategic differencesPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 10 September 2026

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2019-09

2019: public apology for helping Epstein rehabilitate his social reputation

No legal proceedings

Following revelations about donations and meetings linked to MIT, Hoffman acknowledged that his interactions had helped Epstein restore his reputation after his conviction and publicly apologised.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
AxiosReid Hoffman shamed in Epstein rehabPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 10 September 2026

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2017–2018

2017–2018: indirect funding of Project Birmingham and disinformation campaign during Alabama Senate election

No legal proceedings

Hoffman gave $750,000 to American Engagement Technologies, part of which funded Project Birmingham, an operation using fake accounts and tactics inspired by Russian disinformation against Roy Moore.

Attribution: Indirectly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
The Washington PostInternet billionaire Reid Hoffman apologizes for funding a group tied to disinformation in Alabama racePressHigh reliability

Last verified: 10 September 2026

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2013–2015

2013–2015: repeated meetings with Epstein after his conviction during MIT fundraising

Protagonist not prosecuted

Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

Reid Hoffman met Jeffrey Epstein several times after his 2008 conviction, largely in connection with Joi Ito and MIT Media Lab fundraising.

State of the evidence: Admitted by the person
Attribution: Personally implicated
Role of the person profiled: Protagonist not prosecuted

Sources · 2

[1]
TIMEJeffrey Epstein's business connectionsPressHigh reliability
[2]
AxiosExclusive: Reid Hoffman apologizes for role in Epstein-linked donations to MITPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 10 September 2026

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2015-08-02

2 August 2015: private Palo Alto dinner bringing together Epstein and several technology executives

No legal proceedings

A private dinner at Baumé in Palo Alto, linked to Reid Hoffman and the MIT network, brought together Epstein, Joi Ito, Peter Thiel, Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan, Elon Musk and other figures.

State of the evidence: Documented

Sources · 2

[1]
DOJ Epstein Files archive / YirahEFTA00344556 — confirmed dinner guest listArchiveHigh reliability
[2]
WIREDThe Tech Elites in the Epstein FilesPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 10 September 2026

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2014

2014: visit to Little St James with Joi Ito on trip described as MIT-related

No legal proceedings

Hoffman visited Little St James, Epstein's private island, on a trip with Joi Ito described as connected to MIT fundraising.

State of the evidence: Admitted by the person
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
TIMEJeffrey Epstein's business connectionsPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 10 September 2026

Add to this entry

II. Constellation of documented links

Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
Line width: number of documented references
Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (6)

III. Has something changed?

A new court decision, a missing source, a mistake? Tell us what should be updated: every request is read by the editorial team.