Alan Dershowitz has been asked to appear before the House Oversight Committee for a videotaped, transcribed interview as part of its wide-ranging probe into Jeffrey Epstein. The invitation from Rep. James Comer sets an in-person session in Washington, D.C., next month. Dershowitz says he is prepared to testify about everything and will not invoke privilege.
In a letter dated June 12, Oversight Chair James Comer asked Dershowitz to appear in person on July 9 at 10 a.m. ET and said the committee would publicly release the transcript and video as soon as practicable, according to The Boston Globe. The request follows closed-door testimony earlier this month and a meeting the chairman said he held with survivors that raised fresh questions for the panel.
What Dershowitz Says He Will Tell Congress
Dershowitz has said he volunteered to testify and repeatedly urged the committee to call him. He told news outlets he wants the session videotaped, under oath and open to the public, and that he “will personally not invoke privilege,” according to Just The News.
Why The Committee Wants Answers
Comer’s letter said the committee believes Dershowitz may have information because of his role as Epstein’s attorney and documents obtained by investigators. Lawmakers are scrutinizing the 2008 non-prosecution agreement that let Epstein avoid federal indictment. One of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, Virginia Giuffre, previously named Dershowitz and later withdrew that identification, saying she “may have made a mistake,” according to The Washington Post.
Where This Fits In The Wider Probe
The request comes as the committee has already interviewed a string of high-profile figures and has been releasing transcripts and records from the Epstein files, per reporting by The Associated Press. The panel says it is trying to map how Epstein and his associates operated and whether officials mishandled investigations or ethical obligations.
The committee has scheduled an in-person session for July 9, though Dershowitz told The Harvard Crimson he was scheduled to be away on that date and would try to coordinate an alternate date or format. If the interview goes forward, Comer’s office has said the transcript and video will be released “as expeditiously as practical.”
Legal Implications
The transcribed, videotaped interview is a congressional fact-finding tool and is not the same as a criminal prosecution, though public testimony and documents can prompt further probes or referrals to law enforcement. The committee has emphasized transparency in its review and has already posted transcribed interviews and related records as part of that effort, according to the House Oversight Committee’s press releases.
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