Alan Dershowitz, the longtime Harvard Law professor and former defense attorney for Jeffrey Epstein, reignited controversy this week by naming two prominent Democratic figures he says appear in sealed records connected to the Epstein investigation — while stressing that the public has widely misunderstood what the so-called “Epstein list” actually is.

Appearing on Fox News Sunday with host Shannon Bream, Dershowitz said there was never an official client list, despite years of speculation. However, he emphasized that names of powerful individuals do appear in sealed court materials and law-enforcement records, some of which remain hidden from public view.

No “List,” But Sealed Records Exist

Bream asked Dershowitz directly whether names tied to Epstein appear in grand jury transcripts and whether those records could be released by a judge.

Instead, he explained, the information exists elsewhere.

“There are sealed records by two or three federal judges in the New York courts,” Dershowitz said. “I’ve seen some of these materials.”

According to Dershowitz, those materials include FBI interview summaries with alleged victims, in which names of influential individuals were mentioned — but later redacted from public versions.

Two Democratic Figures Named

During the interview, Dershowitz publicly identified two former Democratic officials whose names he said appear in those sealed records:

• George Mitchell, former U.S. Senator from Maine and longtime Democratic Senate Majority Leader
• Bill Richardson, former New Mexico governor, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and cabinet secretary

Dershowitz also referenced Ehud Barak, the former prime minister of Israel, noting that Barak’s name has previously surfaced in reporting related to Epstein.

Importantly, Dershowitz cautioned that being named in records or accusations does not establish wrongdoing.

“Whether any of these people actually did anything wrong, we don’t know,” he said. “We know there have been many false accusations.”

Mitchell, now 91, has been retired from public life for more than a decade. Richardson passed away in 2023. Neither was ever charged with a crime related to Epstein.

Calls for Transparency

Dershowitz argued that continued secrecy surrounding the Epstein records has only fueled speculation and conspiracy theories.

He suggested that judges overseeing the sealed materials should release them — with appropriate protections for privacy and due process — so the public can distinguish between verified facts and unfounded claims.

“The truth should come out,” he said, adding that transparency would protect both legitimate victims and individuals falsely accused.

Dershowitz’s Own Controversy

The interview also resurfaced past allegations against Dershowitz himself.

In 2019, Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre alleged that Dershowitz was among the men she was forced to have sexual encounters with at Epstein’s direction. Dershowitz has vigorously denied the claim.

He later filed a defamation lawsuit against Giuffre. In 2022, Giuffre withdrew her claim, stating she “may have made a mistake,” and the case was dismissed.

Dershowitz has repeatedly maintained his innocence and says the episode illustrates why accusations alone cannot be treated as proof.

Why This Matters Now

The renewed attention comes amid growing bipartisan pressure to release more Epstein-related records. Lawmakers, journalists, and the public continue to demand clarity about who had contact with Epstein — and what, if anything, those relationships involved.

While no new criminal allegations were made during Dershowitz’s interview, his remarks underscore a key point often lost in public debate: the Epstein scandal is as much about secrecy and institutional failure as it is about individual wrongdoing.

Until sealed records are reviewed and released responsibly, speculation is likely to continue — and reputations, deserved or not, will remain caught in the crossfire.