Dershowitz Asked to Testify Before House Oversight Committee in July on Epstein Ties

WASHINGTON — The House Oversight Committee formally requested Friday that Harvard Law School professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz testify about his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey E. Epstein, marking the latest step in the panel’s widening investigation into Epstein and his associates.

In a letter to Dershowitz, Rep. James R. Comer (R-Ky.), who chairs the committee, asked him to appear on July 9 for an in-person, videotaped transcribed interview in Washington, D.C.

The committee wrote that it believes Dershowitz has information that would assist its investigation because of his role as Epstein’s attorney, public reporting, documents released by the Department of Justice, and records obtained by the committee.

The letter said the committee would release the transcript and video of the interview “as expeditiously as practical” after it takes place.

Dershowitz said in a Friday interview with The Crimson that he was “happy to appear” but was currently scheduled to be away on July 9. He said he would try to coordinate an alternate date or format for the interview.

The letter comes just two days after Comer told reporters on Wednesday that he planned to call in Dershowitz following testimony from Lesley Groff, Epstein’s former longtime assistant, and a meeting with several Epstein survivors.

Dershowitz, a high-profile defense lawyer, was part of Epstein’s legal team during negotiations that led to his controversial 2008 plea deal. He has said publicly for months that he is willing to appear before the committee.

In a Thursday interview with The Crimson, Dershowitz said he was eager to testify but had not yet heard from Comer.

“I left a message for him saying ‘I’m anxious to testify, please get in touch with me,’” Dershowitz said Thursday. “I haven’t heard.”

The Friday letter cited remarks Dershowitz has made to the press this week where he expressed “willingness to appear to testify ‘about everything’ in a ‘videotaped, under oath and open to the public’ interview.’”

“I’m glad the letter reflected the fact that I wanted to appear,” Dershowitz said on Friday. “This is something I wanted to do, still want to do, and I’m pleased to do it to help with the issue of transparency.”

The committee’s investigation centers on Epstein’s relationship with the federal government and powerful public figures, including how officials handled investigations into Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell and the circumstances of Epstein’s death.

Dershowitz has long faced scrutiny over his relationship with Epstein. Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, alleged that Dershowitz sexually abused her after she was trafficked by Epstein. Dershowitz has repeatedly denied the allegations and was never charged with wrongdoing related to Epstein.

“I’d like to schedule it,” Dershowitz said on Thursday. “I have nothing to hide. I did nothing wrong. I have never touched another woman, or even flirting. I don’t do that.”

Giuffre dropped the allegations in late 2022, saying in a statement at the time that she “may have made a mistake” in accusing Dershowitz.

The committee’s request comes as lawmakers have brought in more than a dozen people to testify at the House, including former President Bill Clinton and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

Former Harvard President Larry Summers also faced calls Wednesday from Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the Oversight Committee, to appear before the panel.

—Staff writer Elise A. Spenner reported from Washington. She can be reached at [email protected] or on Signal at elisespenner.82. Follow her on X @EliseSpenner.