The House Oversight Committee has warned Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz that it will pursue compulsory measures if he continues to refuse to testify before the panel's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., stated that the committee would explore all available tools, including subpoenas, if Dershowitz does not participate in a transcribed video interview.
Dershowitz had been scheduled for a voluntary transcribed interview on July 20, but his counsel withdrew from the commitment on July 15, citing unspecified legal prohibitions. Comer's letter to Dershowitz highlighted that the professor's counsel failed to provide a reason for the refusal in subsequent follow-ups.
"This is unacceptable," Comer wrote, demanding that Dershowitz agree to a videotaped transcribed interview on September 2. "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, who previously represented Epstein during his 2008 plea deal, had expressed willingness to testify about his past involvement with the convicted sex offender. In a June interview with NewsNation, Dershowitz stated, "I’m very proud of my role in representing 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."
However, he later informed The Harvard Crimson that his attorneys advised him against testifying to the committee due to these unspecified legal reasons.
The House Oversight Committee's probe into Epstein's activities and associates has involved subpoenas and voluntary interviews with several high-profile individuals. These include former Attorney General Pam Bondi, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Obama White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler, and former Clinton aide Doug Band. Tech billionaire Bill Gates has also participated in a voluntary interview, stating his meetings with Epstein were solely to raise funds for global health initiatives.