Exonerated: Why I fought to clear my name in Jeffrey Epstein allegation

Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre dropped her defamation go well with towards Alan Dershowitz.
AP

For all my skilled life I've fought for the rights of others. Then, eight years in the past, I used to be accused of sexual abuse and located myself preventing for my very own rights.

The accusation towards me was distinctive: In different “Me Too” and associated instances, the accused and the accuser knew one another. Typically they had been lovers, workplace colleagues or mates. The difficulty was usually certainly one of diploma: Was there consent? Did the flirtation quantity to harassment?

My case was completely different: The difficulty was black and white; there was no grey space. Both I used to be completely harmless or responsible.

Now my accuser has acknowledged she could have made a mistake in figuring out me as one of many males with whom she had intercourse. She has dismissed all claims towards me and has ended the litigation. The accusation towards me, it seems, could have been a case of mistaken identification. The underside line is — and as I've asserted from the very starting — I did completely nothing incorrect.

This case of mistaken identification has taken a horrible toll on me and my household. It has silenced my voice on behalf of Israel and different causes so essential to me, particularly now with latest rises in anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism. As a direct results of this mistaken allegation, I used to be not invited to talk at Temple Emanu-El, the 92nd Road Y, the Ramaz College and several other universities.

Dershowitz defended Epstein in courtroom.

Corbis through Getty Pictures

I've fought towards the excesses of “cancel tradition” not solely as a result of I used to be a sufferer of it however as a result of it poses an ideal hazard to freedom of speech for the audio system and for individuals who are denied the chance to take heed to them.

I persistently and vehemently denied these allegations, not solely to revive and shield my very own status however to fight the rising latest phenomenon of guilt by accusation within the courtroom of public opinion. I wrote a e book by that title to warn readers of the hazards of crediting accusations with out inspecting the proof — or lack thereof. I'll proceed to combat exhausting on behalf of civil liberties, free speech, due course of and the correct to counsel.

In a single respect, it was straightforward for me to combat again: I've by no means engaged in any sexual misconduct. That's the reason I've sought, and can proceed to hunt, the unsealing of each doc, deposition, recording and video in my case — over the robust objections of my opponents. Others, even these falsely accused of particular misconduct towards a explicit particular person, can not combat again with out risking disclosure of different misconduct towards different individuals. I've no such worry.

I used to be repeatedly suggested to stay silent in order that the accusation may “fade away” with the passage of time. That was not an possibility for me; I needed my title cleared.

Virginia Giuffre accused Epstein of trafficking her to a number of influential males.

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We dwell in a harmful time of deep divisiveness, mirrored each within the just-concluded election and in essential establishments comparable to universities and the media. Individuals are inclined to take sides. As a result of I defended President Donald Trump towards what I thought to be an unconstitutional impeachment, many individuals, together with former mates, consider I'm on the incorrect facet of historical past. They hoped I used to be additionally on the incorrect facet of the accusation towards me. This hope was magnified by the truth that I represented maybe the most despised prison defendant in latest historical past, Jeffrey Epstein.

I'm happy with my authorized illustration of controversial, even detested, people, and I plan to proceed to supply it, within the spirit of John Adams, who defended the despised British troopers accused of the Boston bloodbath.

I want I had by no means met Epstein, however I did the correct factor in defending him, particularly as a result of he was so hated. Individuals can disagree with my alternative of shoppers, and as a legislation professor for a half-century, I welcome reasoned disagreement. However nobody ought to misuse these disagreements as a justification for blindly supporting accusations in a rush to judgment.

Epstein confederate Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced 20 years.

Patrick McMullan through Getty Picture

I hope my case turns into an object lesson within the persevering with want for a presumption of innocence till and except confirmed responsible. The “Me Too” motion has usually been a drive for good, exposing actual predatory sexual misconduct by the responsible. However like each good motion, it's topic to misuse and abuse by the few who would exploit it for their very own profit. We want dependable processes for distinguishing the latter from the previous.

Because the biblical Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar’s spouse, civilizations have struggled to strike the suitable stability in recognizing that accusations will be truthful or false. I commend Virginia Giuffre, who suffered a lot at Epstein’s palms, for having the braveness to return ahead and admit she could have made a mistake in figuring out me. Now we will each transfer on with our lives.

Alan Dershowitz is professor emeritus at Harvard Regulation College and the creator of “Guilt by Accusation” and “The Value of Precept.”