Alan Dershowitz

Academic and Legal Career

Alan Morton Dershowitz was born on September 1, 1938, in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Brooklyn College and Yale Law School before becoming a professor at Harvard Law School at age 28, making him the youngest tenured professor in the school’s history.

He built his reputation defending prominent clients including O.J. Simpson, Mike Tyson, Klaus von Bülow, and Claus von Bülow. He became one of the most publicly prominent defense attorneys and legal commentators in the United States.

Role in the 2008 Epstein Plea Deal

Dershowitz was part of Jeffrey Epstein’s defense team that negotiated the 2008 non-prosecution agreement with then-U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta. The NPA allowed Epstein to plead to two state misdemeanor charges and serve 13 months in a county jail with work release privileges rather than face federal prosecution.

Dershowitz publicly described the NPA as appropriate given the circumstances and publicly criticized prosecutorial methods in the case.

Accusations by Virginia Giuffre

In 2015, Virginia Giuffre included Dershowitz in her civil filings, alleging she had been directed to have sexual contact with him when she was 17. Dershowitz categorically denied these allegations, filed defamation counterclaims against Giuffre’s attorneys, and publicly stated he had an “iron-clad alibi.”

2023-2024 Settlement

In 2023, Giuffre and Dershowitz reached a settlement. As part of the settlement, Giuffre issued a retraction statement saying she may have been mistaken about Dershowitz. The terms were not fully disclosed. Dershowitz characterized the retraction as vindicating him.

Continued Public Activity

After the controversy, Dershowitz remained an active public commentator and legal analyst. He participated in Trump’s impeachment defense (2020) and continued to practice law.