Alan Dershowitz, a liberal Harvard Law professor who famously defended Donald Trump, delivered a sharp warning to Democrats and Republicans alike: stop using courts as political weapons. He slammed both parties for turning the legal system into a playground for settling political scores, calling it dangerous lawfare that erodes trust in American justice. Dershowitz argued this tit-for-tat strategy threatens to undermine our constitutional values and make our courts resemble those of authoritarian nations like Russia or China.
In a fiery appearance on Newsline, Dershowitz pointed out how Democrats weaponized the justice system against Trump through baseless cases like the Georgia election probe. He accused prosecutors of twisting simple political disputes into criminal charges, dangerously blurring the line between policy disagreements and actual crimes. This sends a chilling message that winning elections could become a criminal offense, he warned.
Dershowitz also urged Republicans to avoid retaliating. He advised them to gather evidence transparently and use subpoenas fairly rather than rushing to indict opponents. “Fire after aiming,” he demanded. The professor made clear that while accountability matters, it must come through due process – not politically motivated prosecutions.
The conservative scholar specifically condemned New York’s recent criminal conviction of Trump as a clear example of politicized justice. He called the 34 felony charges an “absolute joke,” arguing they set a dangerous precedent where future presidents could be prosecuted for winning elections. Dershowitz warned this would create a cycle of misery where “prosecute your opponent” becomes a political tool.
Dershowitz emphasized that both parties share blame. He noted Democratic efforts to criminalize Trump’s presidency and Republican moves to retaliate, stressing that neither side gains when courts become partisan battlegrounds. American citizens and the rule of law lose when justice becomes a pawn in political games, he argued.
In a recent debate at New College, Dershowitz aligned with progressive critic Steven Donziger to warn against using legal systems for ideological warfare. He stressed that weaponized justice – whether from government prosecutors or corporate lawyers – silences dissent and threatens free speech. The liberal-turned-Trump-ally warned that even small donors risk losing trust in a system rigged against them.
Dershowitz made clear that ending this trend starts with Democrats. Calling out Biden’s Justice Department for selective prosecutions, he urged them to demonstrate true commitment to impartial justice before demanding Republicans stop retaliating. “Start with yourselves,” he challenged, emphasizing that reform requires honest self-reflection.
The professor closed with a passionate plea to preserve America’s legal bedrock. He demanded both parties stop treating opponents as criminals rather than rivals. “Prosecute crimes, not differences,” Dershowitz declared. Conservatives rallied around his warning, seeing it as a call to protect the impartial justice system from partisan hacks.