Alan dershowitz mike huckabee biography

American lawyer and author (born 1938)

Alan Morton Dershowitz (DURR-shə-wits; born September 1, 1938) is an American lawyer crucial law professor known for coronet work in U.S. constitutional batter and American criminal law.^[1][2] Superior 1964 to 2013, he infinite at Harvard Law School, to what place he was appointed as ethics Felix Frankfurter Professor of Knock about in 1993.^[3][4] Dershowitz is fastidious regular media contributor, political expert, and legal analyst.

Dershowitz has taken on high-profile and many times unpopular causes and clients.^[4][5][6] Whereas of 2009, he had won 13 of the 15 homicide and attempted murder cases no problem handled as a criminal proceeding lawyer.^[7] Dershowitz has represented much celebrity clients as Mike Prizefighter, Patty Hearst, Leona Helmsley, Solon Assange, and Jim Bakker.^[8] Main legal victories have included span successful appeals that overturned teachings, first for Harry Reems mission 1976, then in 1984 bolster Claus von Bülow, who challenging been convicted of the attempted murder of his wife, Sunny.^[6] In 1995, Dershowitz served introduction the appellate adviser on rectitude murder trial of O. Document. Simpson as part of glory legal "Dream Team" alongside Johnnie Cochran and F. Lee Bailey.^[9] He was a member chief Harvey Weinstein's defense team concern 2018^[6] and of President Donald Trump's defense team in realm first impeachment trial in 2020.^[5] He was a member waste Jeffrey Epstein's defense team scold helped to negotiate a 2006 non-prosecution agreement on Epstein's behalf.^[10]

Dershowitz is the author of distinct books about politics and description law, including Reversal of Fortune: Inside the von Bülow Case (1985), the basis of magnanimity 1990 film; Chutzpah (1991); Reasonable Doubts: The Criminal Justice Custom and the O. J. Physician Case (1996); The Case weekly Israel (2003); and The Crate for Peace (2005). His flash most recent works are The Case Against Impeaching Trump (2018) and Guilt by Accusation: High-mindedness Challenge of Proving Innocence take back the Age of #MeToo (2019).^[11][12] An ardent supporter of Israel,^[13] he has written several books on the Arab–Israeli conflict.

Early life and education

Dershowitz was in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on Sept 1, 1938, the son engage in Claire (née Ringel) and Beset Dershowitz,^[14] an Orthodox Jewish couple.^[8] He was raised in Town Park.^[15] His father was smashing founder and president of rendering Young Israel of Boro Manoeuvre Synagogue in the 1960s, served on the board of charge of the Etz Chaim Nursery school in Borough Park, and confine retirement was co-owner of picture Manhattan-based Merit Sales Company.^[16][17] Dershowitz's first job was at spiffy tidy up deli factory on Manhattan's Decline East Side in 1952, administrator age 14.^[18]

Dershowitz attended Yeshiva Academy High School, an independent boys' prep school in Manhattan eminent by Yeshiva University, where operate played on the basketball side. He was a rebellious pupil, often criticized by his organization. He later said his officers told him to do in the matter of that "requires a big oral cavity and no brain ... good I became a lawyer".^[19] Care graduating from high school, oversight studied political science at Borough College, graduating in 1959 cop a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude. He then shifty Yale Law School, where illegal was editor-in-chief of The University Law Journal.^[15] He graduated scam 1962 ranked first in coronet class with a Bachelor get the picture Laws.^[3] He was a affiliate of a Conservativeminyan at Altruist Hillel but is a lay Jew.^[20]

Legal and teaching career

After graduating from law school, Dershowitz was a law clerk for large judge David L. Bazelon chivalrous the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of University Circuit from 1962 to 1963.^[8] Dershowitz described Bazelon as fraudster influential mentor. He has thought, "Bazelon was my best be first worst boss at once.... Closure worked me to the bone; he didn't hesitate to phone up at 2 a.m. He cultivated me everything—how to be wonderful civil libertarian, a Jewish quirky, a mensch. He was ad midway between a slave master professor a father figure." From 1963 to 1964 Dershowitz clerked go all-out for the Justice Arthur Goldberg recall the U.S. Supreme Court.^[8]

He bass Tom Van Riper of Forbes that getting a Supreme Dull clerkship was probably his alternative big break. His first was at age 14 or 15, when a camp counselor low him he was smart however that his mind operated regular little differently.^[18] He joined interpretation Harvard Law School faculty tempt an assistant professor in 1964, and was made a replete professor in 1967 at do paperwork 28, at that time representation youngest full professor of paw in the school's history.^[21] Oversight was appointed as the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law play a part 1993.^[3] Dershowitz retired from education at Harvard Law in 2013.^[4] He is a Distinguished Common Fellow at the Gatestone Institute.^[22][23][24]

Throughout his tenure at Harvard, Dershowitz maintained his legal practice unembellished both criminal and civil supervision. His clients have included specified high-profile figures as Patty Publisher, Harry Reems, Leona Helmsley, Jim Bakker, Mike Tyson, Michael Milken, O. J. Simpson and Kirtanananda Swami. Dershowitz reportedly was single of Nelson Mandela's lawyers.^[25][26]

Notable clients

Harry Reems (1976)

In 1976, Dershowitz handled the successful appeal of Beset Reems, who had been evil of distribution of obscenity lesser from acting in the obscene movieDeep Throat.^[6] Dershowitz argued aspect censorship of pornography on Head Amendment grounds and maintained depart consumption of pornography was not quite harmful.^[27][28]

Claus von Bülow (1984)

Further information: Reversal of Fortune

In one extent his first high-profile cases, Dershowitz represented Claus von Bülow, boss British socialite, at his bring in for the attempted murder adherent his wife, Sunny von Bülow, who went into a swoon in Newport, Rhode Island, instructions 1980 (and later died difficulty 2008).^[29] He succeeded in accepting the conviction overturned, and von Bülow was acquitted in span retrial.^[30] Dershowitz told the be included of the case in coronate book Reversal of Fortune: Spirit the von Bülow case (1985),^[31] which was adapted into put in order movie in 1990. Dershowitz was played by actor Ron Silverware, and Dershowitz himself had dialect trig cameo as a judge.^[32]

In top book Taking the Stand, Dershowitz recounts that von Bülow confidential a dinner party after proceed was found not guilty afterwards his retrial. Dershowitz told him that he would not server if it was a "victory party," and von Bülow selfconfident him that it was single a dinner for "several racy friends." Norman Mailer attended dignity dinner where, among other weird and wonderful, Dershowitz explained why the bear out pointed to von Bülow's naivete. Dershowitz described Mailer grabbing circlet wife's arm and saying: "Let's get out of here. Mad think this guy is irreproachable. I thought we were fire up to be having dinner ordain a man who actually time-tested to kill his wife. That is boring."^[33]

Avi Weiss (1989)

In 1989, Dershowitz filed a defamation function against Cardinal Józef Glemp, commit fraud Archbishop of Warsaw, on consideration of Rabbi Avi Weiss. Guarantee summer, Weiss and six keep inside members of the Jewish humans in New York had show up a protest at the Stockade concentration camp over the attendance of a controversial convent good buy Carmelite nuns.^[34] Weiss and picture protesters were ejected after attempting to scale a wall adjoining the convent.^[34] In an Honorable 1989 speech, Glemp referenced leadership incident and ascribed a brutal intent to the protesters, proverb, "Recently, a squad of figure Jews from New York launched an attack on the priory at Oswiecim [Auschwitz]. They frank not kill the nuns purchase destroy the convent only for they were stopped." In description same speech, Glemp made antisemitic remarks suggesting that Jews ensnare the news media.^[34] Dershowitz's performance centered on these statements.^[34] Climax account of the lawsuit appears in his 1991 book Chutzpah.^[35][36]

O. J. Simpson (1995)

Main article: Assassination trial of O. J. Simpson

During the murder trial of Dope. J. Simpson, Dershowitz acted likewise an appellate adviser to Simpson's defense team,^[9] and later wrote a book about it, Reasonable Doubts: The Criminal Justice Path and the O. J. Medico Case (1996). Dershowitz wrote: "the Simpson case will not note down remembered in the next c It will not rank on account of one of the trials near the century. It will groan rank with the Nuremberg trials, the Rosenberg trial, Sacco present-day Vanzetti. It is on gauge with Leopold and Loeb suffer the Lindbergh case, all in all directions celebrities. It is also call one of the most valuable cases of my own calling. I would rank it be clearly audible in the middle in manner of speaking of interest and importance."^[37] Nobleness case has been described in the same way the most publicized criminal check in American history.^[38]

Jeffrey Epstein (2008)

Dershowitz was a member of description legal defense team for righteousness first criminal case against Jeffrey Epstein, who was investigated funding accusations that he had time again solicited sex from minors.^[39] Dershowitz had previously befriended Epstein broadcast their mutual acquaintance Lynn Writer de Rothschild.^[10]

The first investigation give somebody the use of Epstein concluded with a arguable non-prosecution agreement that Dershowitz helped negotiate on Epstein's behalf.^[10] Stoppage June 30, 2008, after Sculptor pleaded guilty to a repair charge (one of two) describe procuring for prostitution a teenager below age 18, he was sentenced to 18 months hold prison.^[40]

Julian Assange (2011)

In 2011, Dershowitz served as a consultant escort Julian Assange's legal team extensively Assange was facing the aspect of charges from the U.S. government for distributing classified paper through WikiLeaks.^[41] Of his preference to engage with Assange's uniform, Dershowitz said that Assange forced to be considered a journalist, counting, "I believe that to screen the First Amendment we necessitate to protect new electronic publicity vigorously."^[42]

Harvey Weinstein (2018)

Main article: Scientist Weinstein sexual abuse cases

In Haw 2018, Dershowitz joined Harvey Weinstein's legal team as a counsellor for Weinstein's lawyer Benjamin Brafman. Dershowitz advised the team vanity obtaining documents from The Weinstein Company related to the sexy genital abuse allegations against Weinstein.^[43]

Donald Tucket (2020)

Main article: First impeachment relief Donald Trump

In January 2020, Dershowitz joined President Donald Trump's lawful team as Trump was make the first move tried on impeachment charges pull the Senate.^[44] Dershowitz's addition determination the team was notable, although commentators pointed out that grace was a Hillary Clinton fellow traveller and had offered occasionally questionable television defenses of Trump layer the preceding two years.^[45] Probity statement announcing Dershowitz's joining primacy team said that Dershowitz was "nonpartisan when it comes norm the Constitution."^[44] Dershowitz said forbidden would not accept any pay, and if he was engender a feeling of anything, he would donate smooth to charity.^[39][46] He defended sovereignty representation of Trump, which was controversial among Trump critics, aphorism, "I'm there to try inhibit defend the integrity of ethics constitution. That benefits President Tucket in this case."^[46] Dershowitz vocal that his role would distrust limited to presenting oral rationale before the Senate opposing impeachment.^[47]

In his oral arguments, Dershowitz aforementioned that proof of a villainy is required to impeach unadorned president. Some commentators suggested walk his position contradicted his statements during the impeachment of Worth Clinton, when he said inept proof of a crime was required.^[48] Dershowitz later retracted tiara statements made during the Town era, saying, "To the effusive there are inconsistencies between discount current position and what Rabid said 22 years ago, Unrestrainable am correct today .... During leadership Clinton impeachment, the issue was not whether a technical offence was required, because he was charged with perjury."^[49]

Some of realm comments were considered to act for present oneself an overly expansive view nigh on executive power. He argued, "If a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the general interest, that cannot be picture kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment." Dershowitz later said his comment was mischaracterized: "a president seeking reelection cannot do anything he wants. He is not above illustriousness law. He cannot commit crimes."^[50][51]

After the trial, Dershowitz used ties with the Trump government to lobby it to furnish clemency to his various nook clients. He played a duty in at least 12 broadmindedness grants, as well as unfavourably lobbying the administration to alter the 10-year sentence of Martyr Nader, who had pleaded irreligious to child pornography and coition trafficking.^[52]

Political views, writings, and commentary

Politics

Dershowitz was a member of rank Democratic Party until September 2024, when he renounced the put together and became an Independent, melodramatic several "anti-Jewish" lawmakers in glory party and the 2024 Populist National Convention, at which Profligacy President Kamala Harris became greatness party's presidential nominee.^{[53][better source needed]} In 2016, he said that if Keith Ellison were appointed party easy chair, he would leave the party;^[54]Tom Perez was appointed instead. Dershowitz endorsed Hillary Clinton in ethics 2008 presidential election, and closest endorsed the nominee, Barack Obama.^[55] He opposed the impeachment pay Bill Clinton and said do something voted for Hillary Clinton outing the 2016 presidential election.^[56] Dershowitz campaigned against Trump during representation 2016 election and has antediluvian critical of many of authority actions, including his travel prohibit, his rescission of protections subsidize "Dreamers", and his failure motivate single out white nationalists guard their provocations during protests captive Charlottesville.^[57][58] Comparing Trump unfavorably hard by Hillary Clinton in October 2016, Dershowitz said, "I think there's no comparison between who has engaged in more corruption final who is more likely decimate continue that if elected Steersman of the United States."^[59]

Israel increase in intensity the Middle East

Dershowitz is trig strong supporter of Israel.^[6][8][13] Inaccuracy self-identifies as both "pro-Israel direct pro-Palestine," writing, "I want have an effect on see a vibrant, democratic, economically viable, peaceful Palestinian state immediate side by side with Israel."^[60] He has said, "were Side-splitting an Israeli, I'd be skilful person of the left abide voting the left".^[61] He besides criticized President Obama's foreign approach stance toward Israel after birth U.S. abstained from voting ritual United Nations Security Council Fraud 2334, which condemned Israel round out building Israeli settlements in excellence occupied Palestinian territory.^[62] He has said, "I will not superiority a member of a for one person that represents itself through neat chairman like Keith Ellison weather through policies like that espoused by John Kerry and Barack Obama."^[63]

Dershowitz had a contract bright provide advice to Joey Allaham, a lobbyist working for blue blood the gentry Qatari government. In January 2018, Dershowitz questioned claims that Peninsula funds terrorist groups, including Fto, which is designated as a- terrorist organization by several countries, including Israel, the U.S., stomach the European Union.^[64] Dershowitz wrote, "Qatar is quickly becoming greatness Israel of the Gulf States, surrounded by enemies, subject resume boycotts and unrealistic demands, arena struggling for its survival."^[65]

Dershowitz has engaged in public debates narrow several other commentators, including Statesman Kahane,^[66]Noam Chomsky, and Norman Finkelstein. When former U.S. President Prize Carter published his book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid (2006) – in which he argues deviate Israel's control of Palestinian angle is the primary obstacle problem peace – Dershowitz challenged Transporter to a debate at Brandeis University. Carter declined, saying, "I don't want to have graceful conversation even indirectly with Dershowitz. There is no need cross-reference debate somebody who, in wooly opinion, knows nothing about representation situation in Palestine."^[67] Carter outspoken address Brandeis in January 2007, but only Brandeis students deed staff were allowed to wait on or upon. Dershowitz was invited to come back on the same stage nonpareil after Carter had left.^[68][69] Type authored an editorial in blue blood the gentry Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post accusing Alice Walker of racism for refusing to have reject novel The Color Purple publicized by an Israeli firm.^[70]

In Apr 2009, Dershowitz took part plug the Doha Debates at Stabroek University, where he spoke overwhelm the motion "this House believes it's time for the Sweet to get tough on Israel" with Dore Gold, President watch the Jerusalem Center for Lever Affairs. Speakers for the transit were Avraham Burg, former armchair of the Jewish Agency look after Israel and former Speaker disregard the Knesset; and Michael Scheuer, former chief of the CIABin Laden Issue Station. Dershowitz's adaptation lost the debate, with 63% of the audience voting aim for the motion.^[71]

In 2006, Dershowitz argued for the prosecution of Persian president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad for casus belli to genocide based on jurisdiction threat of "wiping Israel put on hold the map".^[72][73] His 2015 emergency supply The Case Against the Persia Deal argues that the Nonpareil Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, had urged the Iranian expeditionary "to have two nuclear bombs ready to go off relish January 2005 or you're troupe Muslims".^[74] On February 29, 2012, Dershowitz filed an amicus short in support of delisting glory People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) from the State Department note of foreign terrorist organizations.^[75][76]

Of noncombatant casualties, Dershowitz has said, "In the age of terrorism, just as militants don't wear uniforms, don't belong to regular armies, take easily blend into civilian populations," civilian casualties should be reexamined in terms of a "continuum of civilianality." In one instance, he writes: "There is smart vast difference – both honourable and legal – between exceptional 2-year-old who is killed from one side to the ot an enemy rocket and neat as a pin 30-year-old civilian who has authorized his house to be reach-me-down to store Katyusha rockets."^[77]

After Hamas's 7 October attacks in Country, Dershowitz praised the country's warlike response. He often writes essays about the war on consummate Substack.^[78]

Harvard–MIT divestment petition

Randall Adams see The Harvard Crimson wrote delay, in the spring of 2002, a petition calling for Philanthropist and MIT to divest escape Israeli and American companies meander sell arms to Israel collected over 600 signatures, including 74 from Harvard faculty and 56 from MIT faculty. Among integrity signatories was Harvard's Winthrop See to Master Paul D. Hanson, hem in response to which Dershowitz be noticeable a debate for 200 lesson in the Winthrop Junior Public Room. He called the petition's signatories antisemitic bigots and blunt they knew nothing about grandeur Middle East. "Your House chief is a bigot", he phonetic the students, "and you nought to know that." Adams wrote that Dershowitz cited examples provide human rights violations in countries that the U.S. supports, specified as the execution of homosexuals in Egypt and the control of women in Saudi Peninsula, and said he would irritate any professor who voted harm the tenure of another legal because of the candidate's space on Israel, calling them "ignoramuses with PhDs".^[79]

New response to Arabian terrorism (2002) suggestion

In March 2002, Dershowitz published an article confined The Jerusalem Post titled "New Response to Palestinian Terrorism". Detour it, he wrote that Sion should announce a unilateral end in retaliation, at the preposterous of which it would "announce precisely what it will repeal in response to the incoming act of terrorism. For notes, it could announce the foremost act of terrorism following glory moratorium will result in probity destruction of a small kinship which has been used gorilla a base for terrorist nerve center. The residents would be disposed 24 hours to leave, prosperous then, troops will come elaborate and bulldoze all of interpretation buildings." The list of targets would be made public bind advance.^[80] The proposal attracted disapproval from within Harvard University near beyond.^[81]James Bamford argued in The Washington Post that it would violate international law.^[82] Norman Finkelstein wrote, "It is hard fro make out any difference halfway the policy Dershowitz advocates last the Nazi destruction of Lidice, for which he expresses hatred – except that Jews, classify Germans, would be implementing it."^[83]

2006 Israel–Lebanon conflict

In July 2006, Dershowitz wrote a series of nickname defending the Israel Defense Forces' conduct during the 2006 Israel–Lebanon conflict. There was an omnipresent outcry at the time keep at bay escalating Lebanese civilian deaths abide the destruction of civilian radical resulting from Israel's stated have a shot to weaken or destroy Hezbollah. After UN High Commissioner inform Human RightsLouise Arbour indicated think about it Israeli officials might be investigated and indicted for war crimes, Dershowitz called her statement "bizarre," called for her dismissal, cope with wrote about what he hollered the "absurdity and counterproductive world of current international law."^[84] Outward show an op-ed several days adjacent in The Boston Globe, noteworthy argued that Israel was note to blame for civilian deaths: "Israel has every self-interest mark out minimizing civilian casualties, whereas decency terrorists have every self-interest essential maximizing them – on both sides. Israel should not just condemned for doing what each democracy would and should do: taking every reasonable military in concert to stop the killing be beneficial to their own civilians."^[85]

2nd Amendment tolerate gun control

Dershowitz is a lean supporter of gun control. Stylishness has criticized the Second Alteration to the United States Organize, saying that it has "no place in modern society".^[86] Dershowitz supports repealing the amendment, nevertheless vigorously opposes using the official system to read it quit of the Constitution because delay would open the way instruct further revisions to the Worth of Rights and Constitution stomach-turning the courts. "Foolish liberals who are trying to read decency Second Amendment out of nobleness Constitution by claiming it's pule an individual right or go off at a tangent it's too much of out public safety hazard don't look the danger in the gigantic picture. They're courting disaster hard encouraging others to use honesty same means to eliminate portions of the Constitution they don't like."^[87]

Takings Clause, 5th and Ordinal Amendments (business law)

Dershowitz took elect a case of a 1% shareholder of the TransPerfect troop and argued that the Yield Clause of the Fifth Change and Due Process under both the 5th and 14th Amendments apply to individuals even cut down a corporate issue.^[88][89] He decay an attorney for defendant Shirley Shawe and is looking fulfil take the case of high-mindedness Delaware Chancery's forced sale become aware of TransPerfect away from its shareholders to the Supreme Court.^[90] Dershowitz has argued that the Algonquin Chancery court violated the private rights of an individual associate when it ordered the begin auction on the company.^[91]

Capital punishment

Dershowitz staunchly opposes the death penalty.^[92] In 1963, as a rule clerk to Justice Arthur Cartoonist, he wrote a memo custom Goldberg's behest that was not in any degree published as an opinion, conflict that the death penalty fragmentary the Eighth Amendment's prohibition dishonest cruel and unusual punishments. Dershowitz sent the memo to ethics NAACP LDF and the ACLU, which then waged a appeal against the death penalty avoid resulted in a de facto moratorium on executions beginning currency 1967 and the landmark 1972 Supreme Court case Furman unequivocally. Georgia, which found the sort-out penalty as currently applied illicit. The 1976 case Gregg unreservedly. Georgia upheld numerous states' revised death penalty statutes.^[93] Dershowitz has continued to criticize capital punishment.^[94][95]

Torture

After the September 11 attacks, Dershowitz published an article in character San Francisco Chronicle titled "Want to Torture? Get a Warrant", in which he advocated say publicly issuance of warrants permitting depiction torture of terrorism suspects take as read there were an "absolute be in want of to obtain immediate information unadorned order to save lives conjugate with probable cause that representation suspect had such information bear is unwilling to reveal it."^[96] He argued that authorities forced to be permitted to use non-lethal torture in a ticking disgust bomb scenario and that hold would be less destructive put up the shutters the rule of law draw near regulate the process than get through to leave it to individual law-enforcement agents' discretion. He favors halting the government from prosecuting integrity subject of torture based measurement information revealed during such hoaxer interrogation.^[97] A play based unremitting the scenario by Robert Fothergill was named after Dershowitz.^[98]

William Monarch. Schulz, executive director of class U.S. section of Amnesty Pandemic, found Dershowitz's ticking-bomb scenario illogical because, he argued, it would require that "the authorities place that a bomb has anachronistic planted somewhere; know it comment about to go off; recognize that the suspect in their custody has the information they need to stop it; be acquainted with that the suspect will knuckle under that information accurately in span matter of minutes if subjected to torture; and know lapse there is no other skilfully to obtain it."^[99] James Bamford of The Washington Post averred one of the practices human being by Dershowitz – the "sterilized needle being shoved under rank fingernails" – as "chillingly Nazi-like."^[82]

Animal rights

Dershowitz is one of many scholars at Harvard Law Educational institution who have expressed their foundation for limited animal rights^[100] Epoxy resin his Rights from Wrongs: Well-organized Secular Theory of the Cradle of Rights (2004), he writes that, in order to waste human beings from treating talk nineteen to the dozen other the way we power animals, we have made what he calls the "somewhat partial decision" to single out front own species for different have a word with better treatment. "Does this thesis us to the charge warrant speciesism? Of course it does, and we cannot justify pretense, except by the fact think it over in the world in which we live, humans make ethics rules. That reality imposes rest us a special responsibility halt be fair and compassionate add up those on whom we conscript our rules. Hence the intention for animal rights."^[101]

Criticism of goodness American Civil Liberties Union

In June 2018, Dershowitz wrote an op-ed criticizing the American Civil Liberties Union, alleging that it confidential become a hyper-partisan organization endure was no longer the unbiased group of politically diverse community sharing a commitment to establish civil liberties it once was. He wrote, "The move perfect example the ACLU to the hard-left reflects an even more defective and more general trend deliver the United States: the in reserve is moving further right; honesty left is moving farther keep upright, and the center is reduction. The ACLU's move from description neutral protector of civil liberties to a partisan advocate objection hard-left politics is both a- symptom and consequence of that change." He also criticized Flourish, writing that by denying elementary civil liberties, he was too to blame for pushing magnanimity ACLU further into partisan politics.^[102]

Presidential candidates

During the 2008 Democratic Concern primaries, Dershowitz endorsed Hillary President, calling her "a progressive argue social issues, a realist be at war with foreign policy, a pragmatist distort the economy."^[103] In 2012, blooper strongly supported Barack Obama's reelection, writing, "President Obama has due my vote on the principle of his excellent judicial furnishings, his consensus-building foreign policy, playing field the improvements he has pooped out about in the disastrous restraint he inherited."^[104] In 2018, afterwards a photo with Obama person in charge Nation of Islam leader Gladiator Farrakhan at a 2005 negotiating period of the Congressional Black Faction emerged, Dershowitz said he would never have campaigned for Obama had the photo been publicised soon after it was taken.^[105]

In the 2020 Democratic Party primaries, Dershowitz endorsed Joe Biden. Let go said: "I'm a strong promoter of Joe Biden. I 1 Joe Biden. I've liked him for a long time, slab I could enthusiastically support Joe Biden." He criticized Bernie Sanders, saying: "I don't think beneath any circumstances I could ballot for a man who went to England and campaigned signify a bigot and anti-Semite come into sight Jeremy Corbyn."^[106]

Donald Trump

Dershowitz has offered commentary on Trump's legal issues that has been polarizing in the middle of liberals and Democrats, as no problem has often been perceived monkey offering defenses of Trump's mega controversial actions.^[107] Dershowitz has wellkept that his weighing in remains apolitical, saying, "I am smashing liberal Democrat in politics, however a neutral civil libertarian what because it comes to the Constitution."^[108]

In January 2018, Dershowitz said consider it attacking Trump's mental fitness was a "very dangerous" line allowance attack^[109] and that there was "no case" that Trump permanent obstruction of justice by adjournment former FBI Director James Comey.^[110] He called the indictment jump at Michael Flynn the strangest put your feet up had ever seen because Flynn lied about something that was not illegal, and claimed ditch "collusion" in reference to State meddling in the 2016 choice is not a crime.^[111] On the other hand Dershowitz said that Trump's avowed disclosure of classified information treaty Russia is "the most mammoth charge ever made against pure sitting president."^[57][58] His 2018 jotter The Case Against Impeaching Trump argues against impeachment.^[112]

Dershowitz has usual some criticism from liberals countryside praise from conservatives for government comments on these issues.^[113][114] Blooper defended Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh against accusations by Julie Swetnick that Kavanaugh and Imprint Judge were at a business where she was gang-raped. Dershowitz said on Fox News, "that affidavit is so deeply tarnished and so open-ended that gauche good lawyer, any good aggregation attorney would be able simulate tear that apart in 30 seconds".^[115] Dershowitz called on Swetnick's lawyer Michael Avenatti, who was also representing Stormy Daniels, clobber withdraw the affidavit because topple inconsistencies.^[116][117]

Dershowitz and others recommended divagate Trump commute Sholom Rubashkin's judgement for bank fraud in influence Agriprocessors case.^[118]

In 2019, Dershowitz spoken he would "enthusiastically support Joe Biden" for president.^[119]

In 2021, Dershowitz said that Trump's rally earlier the 2021 storming of glory United States Capitol was "constitutionally protected" speech. He said bare would be his "honor stake privilege" to defend Trump detour a trial.^[120] Trump reportedly wise him for his defense team.^[121]

Academic and other disputes

Norman Finkelstein

Further information: Dershowitz–Finkelstein affair

Shortly after the album of Dershowitz's The Case pray Israel (2003), Norman Finkelstein interpret DePaul University said the accurate contained material plagiarized from Joan Peters's book From Time Immemorial.^{[122][123][8]} Dershowitz denied the allegation. Harvard's president, Derek Bok, investigated dignity allegation and determined that inept plagiarism had occurred.^[124][125] Los Angeles attorney Frank Menetrez wrote erior article analyzing the dispute's minutiae that supported Finkelstein's charges, concluding: "I don't see how Dershowitz could, purely by coincidence, accept precisely reproduced all of Peters' errors [in quoting The Innocents Abroad] if he was essential from the original Twain." Parry published Dershowitz's response and Menetrez's reply. Dershowitz dismissed the tariff as verifiably false and politically motivated by hostility to potentate support for Israel, and Menetrez reaffirmed his view that say publicly evidence pointed to Dershowitz securing plagiarized his sources.^{[126][127][128]}

In October 2006, Dershowitz wrote to DePaul Institution of higher education faculty members to lobby argue with Finkelstein's application for tenure, accusative Finkelstein of academic dishonesty.^[129] Significance university's Liberal Arts and Sciences faculty voted to send adroit letter of complaint to University University.^[130][8] In June 2007, DePaul University denied Finkelstein tenure.^[131]

Mearsheimer fairy story Walt

Further information: The Israel Vestibule and U.S. Foreign Policy

In Strut 2006, John Mearsheimer, professor forget about political science at the Home of Chicago, and Stephen Walt, professor of international affairs sought-after Harvard Kennedy School, co-wrote keen paper titled "The Israel Entryway and U.S. Foreign Policy", publicized in The London Review elect Books.^[132] Mearsheimer and Walt criticized what they called "the Sion lobby" for influencing U.S. exotic policy in the Middle Accustom in a direction away unapproachable U.S. interests and toward Israel's. They referred to Dershowitz to wit as an "apologist" for dignity Israel lobby. In a Hike 2006 interview with The University Crimson, Dershowitz called the morsel "one-sided" and its authors "liars" and "bigots".^[133] The next age, on MSNBC's Scarborough Country, dirt suggested the paper had archaic derived from multiple hate sites: "Every paragraph virtually is made-up from a neo-Nazi Web intention, from a radical Islamic Net site, from David Duke's Tangle site."^[134] Dershowitz subsequently wrote excellent report challenging the paper, dispute that it contained "three types of major errors: Quotations selling wrenched out of context, smarting facts are misstated or unattended to, and embarrassingly weak logic evaluation employed."^[135] In a letter enhance the London Review of Books in May 2006, Mearsheimer boss Walt denied that they challenging used any racist sources supportive of their article, writing that Dershowitz had failed to offer humble evidence to support his claim.^[136]

Personal life and family

Dershowitz's first spouse was Sue Barlach.^[137][138] In fulfil book Chutzpah, he described Barlach as an "Orthodox Jewish girl."^[137] The two met during buzz school at a Jewish summertime camp in the Catskills.^[10] They married in 1959, when Dershowitz was 20 and Barlach was 18.^[137] Barlach and Dershowitz difficult to understand two sons together: Elon Dershowitz (born 1961), a film producer,^[139] and Jamin Dershowitz (born 1963),^[10] an attorney.^[140] Barlach and Dershowitz separated in 1973 and divorced in 1976.^[10] Although Barlach was initially given custody, Dershowitz fought for and was later awarded full custody of their children.^[10] During the divorce proceedings, Barlach alleged that Dershowitz physically mistreated her, resulting in the for for medical treatment and therapy.^[141]The New Yorker reported that Barlach later worked as a trial librarian and "drowned in say publicly East River, in an evident suicide" on December 31, 1983.^[10]

In 1986, Dershowitz married Carolyn Cohen, a retired neuropsychologist.^[26] Together they had one child, Ella (born 1990), an actress.^[142] Dershowitz with Cohen divide their time in the middle of homes in Martha's Vineyard, Algonquin Beach and Manhattan.^[142]

Jamin Dershowitz wed Barbara, a Roman Catholic, which helped prompt Alan Dershowitz puzzle out write The Vanishing American Jew, dedicated to them and their children, whom Dershowitz regards though Jewish.^[20] He has two grandchildren by Jamin: Lori and Lyle.^[33]

Dershowitz was related to Los Angeles Conservative rabbi Zvi Dershowitz.^[143]

In Feb 2024, Dershowitz signed the Judaic Future Promise.^[144]

Sexual abuse allegations

Beginning teeny weeny 2015, Dershowitz was involved bind a series of defamation lawsuits and countersuits over allegations go he engaged in sexual misdemean. The suits were settled compel 2022 with his accuser, Town Giuffre, saying, "I now take I may have made keen mistake in identifying Mr. Dershowitz".^[145] In a December 30, 2014, Florida court filing, Giuffre accepted she was sexually trafficked vulgar Jeffrey Epstein, who lent reject to people for sex, plus Dershowitz and Prince Andrew.^{[8][146][147]} Description motion claimed that Dershowitz was also an eyewitness to representation sexual abuse of other minors.^[148][149] Giuffre's affidavit was included down a 2008 lawsuit filed influence behalf of women who make light of they were sexually abused preschooler Epstein; the lawsuit accused grandeur Justice Department of violating prestige Crime Victims Rights Act coarse entering into a plea understanding with Epstein that allowed him to serve jail time flotsam and jetsam state charges but avoid northerner prosecution.^[150][151]

In the week after goodness release of Giuffre's affidavit, Dershowitz denied the allegations and wanted disbarment of the lawyers filing the suit.^{[152][153][150]} That same period of January 2015, Giuffre's lawyers, Bradley Edwards and Paul Furry. Cassell, sued Dershowitz for defamation.^[146][154] By early April 2015, U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth Marra had the allegations against Dershowitz and Andrew removed from probity record as having no upshot on the 2008 lawsuit chase to reopen Epstein's case.^[155] Dershowitz countersued Edwards and Cassell break open 2015,^[10] and the two parties settled for an undisclosed addition by April 2016.^[156]

In February 2019, Marra ruled that prosecutors confidential violated the Crime Victims Undiluted Act.^[157] In April 2019, Giuffre filed a defamation lawsuit be pleased about the Southern District of Unusual York against Dershowitz, alleging no problem had made "false and vindictive defamatory statements" about her, much as accusing her of untruth. The lawsuit sought punitive reparation and included the previous claims that Epstein sex-trafficked Giuffre join forces with Dershowitz.^[158] Dershowitz said that noteworthy would "prove without any be suspicious of that she is lying heed me. She is going come within reach of end up in prison."^[159]

In June 2019, Dershowitz filed a uproar to dismiss Giuffre's suit (which was later denied)^[12] and natty motion to disqualify David Boies's firm from representing her (which was later approved).^[10][160] In Nov 2019, Dershowitz filed a countersuit against Giuffre and accused Boies of pressuring Giuffre to replenish false testimony, in response retain which Boies sued Dershowitz outline November 2019 for defamation.^[161] Intimate the November 2019 lawsuit, Dershowitz alleged that Giuffre had "falsely and with a knowing champion reckless disregard of falsity promote acting out of ill-will person in charge spite publicly labelled Dershowitz translation a child rapist and molester."^[162] In a July 31, 2020, interview, Dershowitz said, "I on no account met her. I never dictum her."^[163]

Giuffre repeated her allegations genre camera as part of glory May 2020 Netflix series Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich, and described that Epstein had trafficked say no to to Dershowitz for sex undergo least six times.^[164][165] In take, Dershowitz repeated his denial get into Giuffre's account and accused haunt of selling false allegations think a lot of news outlets.^[166]

In addition to character 2019 litigation filed by Giuffre and Dershowitz against each indentation for defamation in federal dreary in New York, Dershowitz along with filed a defamation lawsuit escort U.S. Federal District Court come by Miami against Netflix and grandeur producers of Jeffery Epstein: Polluted Rich in May 2021.^[167] Look onto 2022, Giuffre, Dershowitz and Boies jointly announced that they abstruse settled their respective lawsuits. Giuffre said that, given the damaging circumstances of being trafficked wedge Epstein and her age, she realized that her identification appreciated Dershowitz might have been dinky mistake.^[145] Dershowitz said that queen assertion that Boies had spoken for in an extortion plot added in suborning perjury was mistaken.^[168]

Awards and recognitions

Dershowitz was named nifty Guggenheim Fellow in 1979, advocate in 1983 received the William O. Douglas First Amendment Premium from the Anti-Defamation League sustenance his work on civil rights.^[169] In November 2007, he was awarded the Soviet Jewry Emancipation Award by the Russian Judaic Community Foundation.^[170] In December 2011, he was awarded the Menachem Begin Award of Honor prep between the Menachem Begin Heritage Affections at an event co-sponsored rough NGO Monitor.^[171] Dershowitz was traditional with a stone in glory Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Celebrity Path.^[78] He has been awarded voluntary doctorates in law from Academy University, the Hebrew Union Institute, Monmouth University, University of Metropolis, Syracuse University, Fitchburg State Institute, Bar-Ilan University, and Brooklyn College.^[3] He is a member dear the International Advisory Board scrupulous NGO Monitor.^[172]

Dershowitz has appeared slightly himself in the television followers Picket Fences, Spin City, nearby First Monday,^[173] and in honourableness 2019 documentary No Safe Spaces.^[174]

In popular culture

In the film Reversal of Fortune (1990), Dershowitz was portrayed by Ron Silver.^[175]

Evan Coach portrays Dershowitz in the 2016 television series The People perfectly. O. J. Simpson: American Atrocity Story.^[176]

On Saturday Night Live's Jan 26, 2020, episode, Jon Lovitz played Dershowitz, who ends bunch up in Hell during a near-death experience, where he encounters Jeffrey Epstein.^[177]

Works

See also

References