Jeffrey Toobin Goes After Alan Dershowitz On CNN: ‘What Happened To You?’
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
By Ari Feldman March 22, 2018
Legal expert Jeffrey Toobin clashed with his former law professor, Alan Dershowitz, during Anderson Cooper’s CNN show Wednesday evening. Dershowitz is a famous defense attorney who taught Toobin as a professor at Harvard University’s law school.
Their tense exchange came as they were both discussing the legal necessity of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s contacts with the Trump campaign. Dershowitz has repeatedly decried the investigation, saying he would have preferred a bipartisan commission.
“How has this come about that, in every situation over the past year, you have been carrying water for Donald Trump?” Toobin said to Dershowitz. “This is not who you used to be, and you are doing this over and over again in situations that are just obviously rife with conflict of interest. And it’s just, like, what’s happened to you?”
It wasn’t the first time the two, who have been close for many years, have clashed. Last June, during a panel discussion, they also disagreed after Dershowitz argued that the president cannot legally obstruct justice. Dershowitz told the Washington Post in December that his views about Trump have made him something of a leper in the Harvard community.
“None of my liberal friends invite me to dinner anymore,” Dershowitz said. “Thanks to Donald Trump, I’ve lost seven pounds. I call it the Donald Trump diet.”
Contact Ari Feldman at [email protected] or on Twitter @aefeldman
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
