Trump Lawyer, 87, Claims Epstein Didn’t Qualify as a ‘Pedophile’

Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz
Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz Photo by FMT licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Emeritus Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz has jumped into the latest revived controversy surrounding the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his ties to former President Donald Trump—by insisting that Epstein wasn’t quite as awful as commonly portrayed.

Appearing on Chris Cuomo’s NewsNation show Friday, Dershowitz took it upon himself to “correct the record” on the nature of Epstein’s crimes.

“The guest before me called Epstein a convicted pedophile,” Dershowitz griped to Cuomo. “[Epstein] pleaded guilty to a single charge of paying for sex with someone who was 17 years and 10 months old. That’s not what a pedophile is.”

While Epstein has long been accused of far more extensive and disturbing abuses, the case Dershowitz highlighted stems from Epstein’s 2008 plea agreement, which allowed him to serve only 13 months of an 18-month sentence—much of it spent on work release.

That lenient deal came despite the investigation beginning with allegations involving a 14-year-old girl, as well as federal officials identifying 36 underage victims Epstein was suspected of abusing. Epstein ultimately pleaded guilty to two lesser state charges—prostitution and soliciting a minor—avoiding federal prosecution entirely.

A 2020 Justice Department review of the case concluded the plea arrangement reflected “poor judgment” on the part of federal authorities.

Trump, now 79, has recently bristled when questioned about his past association with Epstein.

The disgraced financier, once known to be in Trump’s social circle, never faced federal sex-trafficking charges; he died in a New York jail on Aug. 19, 2019, while awaiting trial.

Dershowitz, who defended Trump during his first impeachment trial and previously argued that a president has sweeping authority to act as he wishes, also had both personal and professional ties to Epstein.

Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, alleged that Epstein coerced her into having sex with Dershowitz aboard the financier’s private jet. Dershowitz denied the allegation, though he acknowledged receiving a massage at Epstein’s residence—insisting he kept his underwear on and did not enjoy it.