Who Is Alan Dershowitz
Alan Dershowitz is one of America’s most prominent criminal defense attorneys, emeritus professor at Harvard Law School. He has represented famous clients including O.J. Simpson, Claus von Bülow, and Jeffrey Epstein.
His Role in the 2008 Deal
Dershowitz was a member of Epstein’s legal “dream team” that negotiated the Non-Prosecution Agreement (NPA) with federal prosecutor Alex Acosta in 2007–2008. The NPA allowed Epstein to plead guilty to two state charges while avoiding federal sex trafficking charges.
Critics have argued the deal was extraordinary in its leniency, and Dershowitz’s participation — given his Harvard connections and legal prestige — was central to the deal’s success.
Virginia Giuffre’s Allegations
In a 2015 civil lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell, Virginia Giuffre alleged that she was trafficked to Dershowitz and was forced to have sexual relations with him on multiple occasions.
Dershowitz categorically denied these allegations. He stated he never had any sexual contact with Giuffre and demanded her attorneys be sanctioned for making false allegations.
The Legal Battle
The allegations triggered years of litigation:
- Giuffre sued Dershowitz for defamation
- Dershowitz counter-sued Giuffre and her attorneys
- The case involved disclosure battles over Dershowitz’s own attorney-client records
The “Underpants” Defense
In his denial, Dershowitz stated that he kept his “underwear on” during massages at Epstein’s homes — implying he did receive massages there but nothing sexual occurred. Critics noted this was an unusual defense.
Partial Resolution
In a significant development, Giuffre filed an amended complaint in 2022 that removed Dershowitz as a defendant, citing a “mistake.” The circumstances of this removal have been disputed. Dershowitz claimed it vindicated him; others said Giuffre’s filing did not include a statement that the allegations were untrue.
Flight Logs
Dershowitz acknowledged flying on Epstein’s private jet on multiple occasions, traveling to Epstein’s Palm Beach home and other properties.
Current Status
No criminal charges have been filed against Dershowitz. He maintains all allegations were false and has written extensively about what he characterizes as a politically motivated campaign against him.