manipulated. Then I reme: enjoy myself. But then it go eyes. “What did you see?” “A woman. A woman I’ “A woman? Dominique “It was dark. I just wan “But the twelve-year-ol “No. She threatened me. she was going to scream ‘Ri “And there was nothing years and a hundred pound “The party was going on was going to look. I was nake It was a brilliant plot tw: dan to get off scot-free. But the plot twist that I on the day of Alan Dershow Florida, courthouse was eve CHAPTER 65 Alan Dershowitz: October 2015 About fifteen minutes into the ripped-from-the-headlines episode of Law & Order: SVU that was inspired by the Jeffrey Epstein saga, the plot takes an interesting turn: before officers have a chance to arrest him, Jordan, the character modeled on Epstein, shows up at SVU headquarters. The twelve-year-old French girl raped him, Jordan says. Wearing a monogrammed fleece pullover like the ones favored by Jeffrey Epstein, he describes an evening at home. “The party was in full swing,” he explains. “A friend said she wanted to give me a special present. Told me to wait in my massage room-” An SVU guy interrupts: “Guy has a massage room?” “I suffer from chronic back pain,” Jordan says. “While I was waiting, I fell asleep. Now, at first I thought I must be dreaming. I was aroused. I felt myself being manually 250 “There was a criminal extort Edwards and Paul Cassell’s I 2015. “Your clients were involv Bradley and Cassell had s for defamation-payback fo law professor had made in th Dershowitz had counters and he had come armed for b HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009331¶
FILTHY RICH CHAPTER 65 manipulated. Then I remembered it was my present. I started to enjoy myself. But then it got rough, and that’s when I opened my eyes. “What did you see?” “A woman. A woman I’d never seen before.” “A woman? Dominique Moreau was twelve!” “It was dark. I just wanted her off of me. I tried to stop her.” “But the twelve-year-old overpowered you?” “No. She threatened me. She said if I didn’t let her…continue, she was going to scream ‘Rape.’” “And there was nothing that you could do? You’ve got forty years and a hundred pounds on the girl.” “The party was going on right outside the door. I knew how this was going to look. I was naked. She was naked. What could I do?” It was a brilliant plot twist-one that ultimately allowed Jordan to get off scot-free. But the plot twist that Epstein’s own story ended up taking on the day of Alan Dershowitz’s deposition at a Broward County, Florida, courthouse was even more surprising. “There was a criminal extortion plot,” Alan Dershowitz told Brad Edwards and Paul Cassell’s lawyer, Jack Scarola, on October 15, 2015. “Your clients were involved.” Bradley and Cassell had sued Dershowitz in Broward County for defamation-payback for extremely negative comments the law professor had made in the media. Dershowitz had countersued. His reputation was on the line, and he had come armed for battle. r 2015 nto the ripped-from-the-headlines : SVU that was inspired by the Jeflot takes an interesting turn: before st him, Jordan, the character mod- SVU headquarters. h girl raped him, Jordan says. fleece pullover like the ones favored es an evening at home. ng,” he explains. “A friend said she resent. Told me to wait in my mas- Guy has a massage room?” k pain,” Jordan says. ell asleep. Now, at first I thought I used. I felt myself being manually 250 251 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009332¶
JAMES PATTERSON “I’m thrilled they sued me,” he’d told reporters. “In the end, someone will be disbarred. Either it will be me or the two lawyers.” But if Dershowitz was swinging for the fences in his struggle to keep his hard-earned reputation afloat, he still had a bombshell to drop. When deposed by Scarola, he proposed his own theory about why Virginia Roberts had named him, along with Prince Andrew, as one of the men who had sexually abused her at Epstein’s New Mexico ranch, in New York City, and in Palm Beach. A theory that implicated the lawyers who were suing him in a much larger conspiracy. According to Dershowitz, Brad Edwards pressured Virginia Roberts into identifying Dershowitz as one her assailants. Dershowitz said that Edwards did this so that they could blackmail Jeffrey Epstein’s patron Leslie Wexner for one billion dollars. Roberts lied about him, Dershowitz maintained, to give Wexner an idea of what would happen to him if Edwards’s demands weren’t met. Furthermore, Dershowitz said, he had proof. 252 Excerpts from the Deposi October 15, 2015 9:46 a.m. Q: In an interview with Hala broadcast on CNN Live, yo Do you acknowledge havir A: I have a superb memory, sc My mother had an extraorc college and I was on the de to debate on the Sabbath, w the condition that I not tak I discovered that I have a v to-generally didn’t have ously, at the age of seventy have a very good memory, y 2 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009333¶
TERSON he’d told reporters. “In the end, her it will be me or the two ing for the fences in his struggle ion afloat, he still had a bomb- y Scarola, he proposed his own erts had named him, along with en who had sexually abused her in New York City, and in Palm lawyers who were suing him in a rad Edwards pressured Virginia witz as one her assailants. rds did this so that they could on Leslie Wexner for one billion Dershowitz maintained, to give ld happen to him if Edwards’s aid, he had proof. 252 CHAPTER 66 Excerpts from the Deposition of Alan Dershowitz: October 15, 2015 9:46 a.m. Q: In an interview with Hala Gorani on January 5 of this year, broadcast on CNN Live, you said, “I have a superb memory.” Do you acknowledge having made that statement? A: I have a superb memory, so I must have made that statement. My mother had an extraordinary memory, and when I was in college and I was on the debate team, my mother allowed me to debate on the Sabbath, which was Jewish rest day, only on the condition that I not take notes or write. And at that point I discovered that I have a very good memory and don’t have to generally didn’t have to take notes. My memory, obviously, at the age of seventy-seven has slipped a bit; but do I have a very good memory, yes. 253 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009334¶
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10:18 a.m. Q: Which of my clients are you swearing under oath encouraged Virginia Roberts to include allegations of an encounter with you at the New Mexico ranch? A: Both of them-both of your clients, both Judge Cassell and Mr. Edwards-were both involved in encouraging [their] client to file a perjurious affidavit that they knew or should have known was perjurious recently when they sought to file another defamatory allegation in the federal proceeding. Q: Was the arrangement such that what you are charging Bradley Edwards and Professor Paul Cassell with doing was suborning perjury? A: Absolutely. If you ask me the question, I am directly charging Judge Cassell and Bradley Edwards with suborning perjury. I have been advised that Virginia Roberts did not want to mention me, told her friends that she did not want to mention me. And was, quote, pressured by her lawyers into including these totally false allegations against me. Yes, your clients are guilty of suborning perjury. Q: Who told you that Bradley Edwards pressured Virginia Roberts into falsely identifying you? A: A friend of Virginia Roberts who called me out of the blue and told me that she was horrified by what was happening to me and that she recently had meetings with Virginia Roberts and Virginia Roberts had told her that she never mentioned me previously. That the lawyers pressured her into mention- 254 ing me. And mentioni me, yes. 10:20 a.m. Q: What was the name of A: Her name is-her first Q: Yes. A: I don’t know the last na Q: Did you attempt to find A: I have her last name wr Q: Where? A: It’s in my-in my notes Q: When did you write Ret A: When she-when she f since you’ve asked me th At first her husband a would not give me their n had a series of phone co please, to tell me their na they told me the story in g her name. She asked me her identity without her p her. Called her as recently I want to recall-I do I called her twice last ni reveal her complete name and I will be happy to giv top of my head. HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009335¶
ATTERSON¶
- * FILTHY RICH ing me. And mentioning me over her desire not to mention me, yes. ou swearing under oath encourclude allegations of an encounter
ranch? our clients, both Judge Cassell both involved in encouraging rious affidavit that they knew or perjurious recently when they matory allegation in the federal 10:20 a.m. Q: What was the name of the person? A: Her name is-her first name is Rebecca. Q: Yes. A: I don’t know the last name. Q: Did you attempt to find out her last name? A: I have her last name written down, but- Q: Where? A: It’s in my-in my notes. And I could get it for you… Q: When did you write Rebecca’s name down? A: When she-when she first called me-let me be very clear, since you’ve asked me the question. At first her husband and she called me on the phone. They would not give me their names. But they told me [the] story. We had a series of phone conversations in which I asked them, please, to tell me their names. And after a period of time, after they told me the story in great detail, she was willing to give me her name. She asked me to promise that I would not disclose her identity without her permission. I have been trying to call her. Called her as recently as this morning and last night. I want to recall-I don’t think I called her this morning. I called her twice last night to try to get her permission to reveal her complete name and identity. But I have the name, and I will be happy to give it to you. I just don’t have it off the top of my head. that what you are charging Brad- Paul Cassell with doing was sub- e question, I am directly charging dwards with suborning perjury. I irginia Roberts did not want to ds that she did not want to menpressured by her lawyers into : allegations against me. Yes, your ng perjury. Edwards pressured Virginia Robyou? ts who called me out of the blue rrified by what was happening to d meetings with Virginia Roberts old her that she never mentioned ‘yers pressured her into mention- 254 255 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009336
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JAMES PATTERSON¶
10:23 a.m. Q: Would you tell us how many phone conversations [you had] with this person Rebecca? A: More than six. Probably between six and ten, maybe closer to ten. The first few [times] she called me, and after I got their number I called her a number of times. Q: What is her husband’s name? A: Michael. Different last name from hers, but again. Q: Where do they live? A: Palm Beach. Or West Palm Beach, in the Palm Beach area. They have been friends of Virginia Roberts since she was a young child. Q: Were there any witnesses to any of these phone conversations other than Rebecca, Michael, and you? A: Yes. Q: Who? A: My wife. Q: When did the first conversation occur? A: I can probably get you specific information about that. But it was months ago. When the story was in the newspapers, she called and related the entire story to me and related to me that it was part of a massive extortion plot. 10:25 a.m. Q: Did you take contemporaneous notes of those phone conversations? 256 A: No. I took note of nai stance, no. Q: Have you ever made n any communications t and/or Michael? A: I didn’t “allegedly” have versations. And I don’t tions. 10:44 a.m. Q: How many phone calls d before she informed you ing you? A: She informed me the firs Q: The very first conversati A: Yes. Q: How many phone calls w A: She never asked me for n Q: How many phone calls v for money? A: I was never asked for mo Q: Do you know how it is t tact you? A: They told me they went and left a message for me Oh, no; they sent me—th an e-mail and asked me— but a way to respond. A: HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009337¶
ATTERSON¶
- * ly phone conversations [you had] tween six and ten, maybe closer s] she called me, and after I got number of times. e? e from hers, but again. leach, in the Palm Beach area. They Roberts since she was a young child. to any of these phone conversa- Michael, and you? ation occur? cific information about that. But it e story was in the newspapers, she re story to me and related to me ve extortion plot. neous notes of those phone conver- 256 FILTHY RICH A: No. I took note of names, but not really notes of the substance, no. Q: Have you ever made notes with regard to the substance of any communications that you allegedly had with Rebecca and/or Michael? A: I didn’t “allegedly” have these conversations. I had these conversations. And I don’t recall taking notes of those conversations. 10:44 a.m. Q: How many phone calls did you have with this person Rebecca before she informed you as to the reason why she was calling you? A: She informed me the first time. Q: The very first conversation. A: Yes. Q: How many phone calls was it before she asked you for money? A: She never asked me for money. Q: How many phone calls was it before her husband asked you for money? A: I was never asked for money, ever. Q: Do you know how it is that these people knew how to contact you? A: They told me they went to my website and got my number and left a message for me to call. Yeah, that’s what happened. Oh, no; they sent me-they went on my website and sent me an e-mail and asked me-and the e-mail had a blank name but a way to respond. And so I responded with my phone 257 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009338
JAMES PATTERSON number and they called, is my recollection. That’s my best recollection. 10:45 a.m. Q: So from the very first conversation that you had with this person, you had information indicating that this person was informing you that Bradley Edwards had engaged in unethical conduct, correct? A: Let me just be very clear what she said to me. She said to me that she had been told directly by her friend Virginia Roberts, who stayed with her overnight for a period of time, that she never wanted to mention me in any of the pleadings. And that her two lawyers in the pleadings, or her lawyers who filed the pleadings, pressured her into including my name and details. Q: Did Rebecca ever suggest to you that the details sworn to by Virginia Roberts were false? A: She certainly suggested that, yes. She mentioned to me that Virginia Roberts had never, ever mentioned [me to her], among any of the people that she had had any contact with, until she—until she was pressured into doing so by her lawyers, yes. Q: So from the very first conversation, the impression you had was that this was a witness who could provide information that Bradley Edwards and Paul Cassell had acted unethically and dishonestly, correct? A: I wasn’t sure she could provide the information because she was very reluctant to come forward. She didn’t want to be 258 involved. But I knew she yes, but I didn’t know, a prepared to be a witne question. 11:08 a.m. Q: Was any request made by A: Yes. Q: Let me back up then, if I you to do, based upon yo much detail as you poss said… A: I’m not sure the request f or the second call…Th like to talk to your wife [1 down. I’m happy to talk that they would think— her to think about it. An few days and find out wh were. Q: Where were you when when you made this phon A: I think I was in New York Q: Do you know whether th phone or a landline? A: I don’t remember. Q: Have you attempted to gat poses of responding to dis HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009339¶
TTERSON FILTHY RICH my recollection. That’s my best involved. But I knew she had provided me with information, yes, but I didn’t know, and I still don’t know, whether she is prepared to be a witness. I don’t know the answer to that question. ersation that you had with this n indicating that this person was Edwards had engaged in unethi- 11:08 a.m. Q: Was any request made by you for a meeting? A: Yes. hat she said to me. She said to me ectly by her friend Virginia Robvernight for a period of time, that n me in any of the pleadings. And e pleadings, or her lawyers who red her into including my name o you that the details sworn to by ? at, yes. She mentioned to me that er, ever mentioned [me to her], hat she had had any contact with, ressured into doing so by her lawversation, the impression you had ss who could provide information Paul Cassell had acted unethically ovide the information because she ne forward. She didn’t want to be 258 Q: Let me back up then, if I could, please. Because what I want you to do, based upon your superb memory, is to tell us in as much detail as you possibly can recall everything that was said… A: I’m not sure the request for the meeting came in the first call or the second call… The first call was basically, I’d really like to talk to your wife [Rebecca] about this. I’m happy to fly down. I’m happy to talk to you on the phone. And we left it that they would think-that she would-that he would ask her to think about it. And that I could call back in a-in a few days and find out what her-what her current feelings were. Q: Where were you when you received this phone call-or when you made this phone call? Sorry. A: I think I was in New York. Q: Do you know whether that phone call was made on a cell phone or a landline? A: I don’t remember. Q: Have you attempted to gather your telephone records for purposes of responding to discovery requests in this case? 259 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_009340¶