Congress will force Dershowitz to testify on Epstein: Letter

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(NewsNation) — Lawmakers accused Jeffrey Epstein’s former attorney Alan Dershowitz of trying to back out of Congressional testimony about his former client. 

Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer requested Dershowitz speak before the committee in June. 

A letter from Comer sent on Tuesday to the lawyer said he has reneged on his promise to appear before Congress.

The letter read in part, “The Committee appreciated you expeditiously agreeing to appear before the Committee for a videotaped transcribed interview on July 20, 2026. However, on July 15, 2026, your counsel notified the Committee that you cannot now testify in Congress concerning the matters in which (the Committee) are interested.’”

It continued that Dershowitz’s counsel did not “provide a reason for your refusal to testify” and said it was “unacceptable.” 

They concluded, “The Committee is committed to a transparent investigation and expects you to be forthcoming. The Committee will not tolerate any further delay. Accordingly, we reiterate our request that you testify at an in-person, videotaped, transcribed interview on September 2, 2026. If you fail to adhere to this request, the Committee will explore all available tools at its disposal, including the use of the compulsory process.”

Dershowitz told NewsNation on Wednesday, “I volunteered to testify, but my lawyers have now instructed me that there is a legal barrier that we are now addressing.”

In June, NewsNation spoke to Dershowitz via phone after Comer’s announcement.

Dershowitz told NewsNation, “First I am hearing it,” and stated he has not received a formal letter to speak before the Oversight Committee.

He said at the time, “I’m very proud of my role in representing (Jeffrey) Epstein. I’m prepared to testify about everything. I offered to testify, volunteered for the past few months. I will personally not invoke privilege. I have nothing to hide. I hope they have videos of Epstein’s rooms… bedrooms. I’m willing to testify truthfully about Les Wexner. All of it.”

Comer said the decision to call Dershowitz came after the committee’s transcribed interview with Lesley Groff, Epstein’s longtime executive assistant.  

The names appearing in these documents do not mean there is evidence of a crime. No criminal charges against those named other than Ghislaine Maxwell were filed in connection with Epstein’s crimes.

Dershowitz told NewsNation he had limited contact with Groff, “limited to arranging travel accommodations for lawyers around 2006.”

What the Epstein files say about Alan Dershowitz

In February, NewsNation learned the woman was a primary informant to the FBI about Epstein’s sex trafficking ring. She went to the FBI after she was allegedly trafficked to several of Epstein’s friends, a member of Congress who has seen the relevant files unredacted told NewsNation.

The names appearing in these documents do not indicate evidence of a crime. No criminal charges against those named other than Ghislaine Maxwell were filed in connection with Epstein’s crimes.

An Epstein survivor assisted in preparing an FBI PowerPoint presentation examining a list of high-profile men with associations with Epstein. According to the documents, the list included President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton, with a note, “Numerous anonymous NTOC’s (National Threat Operations Center tips) were received with allegations against prominent individuals.” 

According to FBI documents, she told the bureau that as part of Epstein’s operations, she was directed to give massages, was put in compromising positions and was a victim of sexual abuse.

The alleged survivor’s redacted claims appear in a slideshow the FBI created as part of its investigations into three men: Alan Dershowitz, Harvey Weinstein and Leon Black. 

She alleged Epstein trafficked her to Weinstein and Black at different times.

Among the allegations given to the FBI, the woman stated that Weinstein showed up at her door and tried to follow her into her shower after offering her a job.

When asked about the claims in the FBI’s memo against Weinstein, his attorney, Arthur Aidala, said at that time, “No comment.”

Weinstein is serving 23 years in a New York prison for sexual assaults. 

Among allegations against Black given to the FBI, an alleged victim says Black raped and trafficked her multiple times and that he threatened her. 

A judge sanctioned a Leon Black accuser and her attorney, known only as Jane Doe, in April, saying she falsified and potentially destroyed evidence in the case. Black denied any wrongdoing and said he never met Doe.

In the documents, the woman stated she gave Dershowitz, Epstein’s former attorney, a massage on the disgraced financier’s plane.

Dershowitz has denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein’s sexual criminality. 

“I never received a massage on Epstein’s plane. I can prove that I was never on his plane with a young woman. She made up the entire story. In doing so, she violated section 1001 of the criminal code — lying to the FBI,” Dershowitz told NewsNation in a statement that month.

“She was not a minor. She is a criminal. There is no basis for redacting the name of an adult criminal. I’m planning to sue her as ‘Jane Doe’ and subpoenaing the Justice Department and FBI to reveal the name of this felon,” Dershowitz also stated

Diana Falzone is the senior national investigations reporter at NewsNation Digital, covering the federal government, warzones and top-level criminal investigations. 

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