Attorney Alan Dershowitz has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Netflix over his portrayal in the documentary series “Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich.”
The $80 million lawsuit in a Florida federal court alleges that the company and the show’s producers “knowingly and deliberately misled Professor Dershowitz as to their intentions for his participation in the series.”
Dershowitz, an opinion contributor at The Hill, further alleges that he was portrayed in a “defamatory manner” by falsely alleging he had sex with Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre. He also says the show did not present evidence that would have proven that allegation false, despite being presented with it.
Giuffre has alleged that she was ordered to have sex with several of Epstein’s acquaintances, including Dershowitz.
Dershowitz, a Harvard professor, helped negotiate a controversial plea deal in 2008 in which Epstein pleaded guilty to two state prostitution charges in Florida, serving more than one year while having work-release privileges.
However, Dershowitz has always denied having sex with Giuffre. The complaint states that Dershowitz has sworn under oath that he never had sexual encounters with Giuffre.
“Professor Dershowitz has sworn under oath in affidavits and a deposition that he had never met Giuffre at the time she alleged their encounters occurred, and that he never had any sexual contact with Giuffre,” the complaint continues.
Dershowitz is asking for $20 million for each of the four claims he’s levied against Netflix, which include defamation and breach of contract.
A Netflix spokesperson told The Hill that the lawsuit is “without merit, and we will vigorously defend our partners and the series.”
Epstein would later be arrested on federal sex trafficking charges. He died by suicide in August 2019.