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Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mar-a-Lago member offers free pierogi for life to Alan Dershowitz after Martha's Vineyard rebuff
With a Martha's Vineyard vendor refusing to cede to Alan Dershowitz's pierogi demands, a South Florida restaurant owner -- who happens to be a member of Donald Trump's private Mar-a-lago resort -- has stepped up and offered free dumplings for life to the former Jeffrey Epstein lawyer. In the latest of Dershowitz's social sufferings at the exclusive summer playground for the ultra-wealthy, the one-time Trump attorney threatened to file a discrimination lawsuit after he was denied pierogi at a farmer's market in July. Dershowitz claimed that the owner of Good Pierogi refused to serve him 'for political reasons' and his support of Zionist causes, suggesting the vendor was antisemitic. After railing against the 'bigoted vendor' online, claiming Good Pierogi's food was 'tainted with the poison of antisemitism' and urging others to boycott the stand, Dershowitz returned to the market last week to once again try to buy some of the doughy treats. Instead, owner Krem Miskevich – who has cited Dershowitz's defense of Epstein as the reason to refuse him service – again turned him away. Good Pierogi supporters chanted 'time to go' at the famed lawyer. After Dershowitz ran to MAGA-supporting media to complain about the ongoing ordeal of his pierogi-less existence on the island, a sympathetic restaurateur came to the rescue to fill all of the 86-year-old Harvard Law emeritus' Eastern European dumpling needs. 'Pierogi should bring people together — not divide them,' Peter Nowocien, owner of PierogiOne restaurant, told the New York Post this week. Nowocien, who is a member of Mar-a-Lago and recently hosted an event at the president's South Florida club, said that no one should ever be denied pierogi before declaring that he'd send Dershowitz and his family free food for life. The restaurant owner, a Polish immigrant who moved to the United States six years ago, told the Post that 'Dershowitz's disturbing experience did not sit right' with him because of his experience growing up in the shadow of Poland's communist regime. 'As a Polish immigrant, I hate to hear about discrimination in the US because of people's political views. That shouldn't happen here,' the Trump-supporting Nowocien said, adding that his father fought against communism. 'Discrimination breeds injustice.' Nowocien also noted that while Dershowitz, who is Jewish, may not be willing to sample his restaurant's Philly cheesesteak, spicy beef, or bacon and cheddar pierogi options, the lawyer could choose the classic cheese and potato variety. Meanwhile, it would appear that – at least for the time being – Dershowitz is going to stop trying to force Good Pierogi to serve him. Following last week's spectacle that saw him shouted out of the market, Semafor's Max Tani asked Dershowitz whether he would return over the weekend to try again. 'Heading to Israel, where they will sell me better pierogi,' the lawyer, who is a fervent supporter of pro-Israeli causes, replied. The Independent has contacted Dershowitz for comment. Dershowitz's war on the West Tisbury pierogi stand began in earnest at the end of last month, when he made a huge public stink after Miskevich refused to sell to him, prompting him to upload a 30-minute video about the 'bigoted vendor' while threatening a lawsuit against Good Pierogi and the local farmer's market. While noting that Miskevich brought up his past defense of deceased sex offender Epstein when refusing him service, Dershowitz has since alleged that the vendor – who is Jewish – turned him away because they are antisemitic. (Miskevinc uses they/them pronouns.) 'As I correctly suspected, the bigot who refused to sell me perogi [sic] — Krem Miskevich — is a notorious anti-semite who is part of an anti-semitic organization that protests Jewish — not only Israeli— cultural events and doesn't believe in Israel's right to exist or to respond to what these haters regard as the 'justified' massacres of Oct 7,' Dershowitz tweeted last week, adding: 'Don't patronize anti-semites who refuse to sell to Jewish Zionists.' Miskevich responded to Dershowitz's accusations by noting that they 'experienced a surge of emotion' when the lawyer appeared at the stand last month because he's represented and befriended 'several sexual predators and abusers including Jeffrey Epstein,' adding that they know many people who have been sexual assault victims. Miskevich also said Dershowitz 'began to harass us, misgender me, and film us without our consent.' Additionally, they pointed out that not only are they Jewish, but they have immediate family members in Israel and friends on the island sometimes refer to them as 'Rabbi Klem.' Despite Dershowitz's vow to boycott Good Pierogi, the celebrity attorney turned up Wednesday to join the long line of customers – most of whom were there to show support for Good Pierogi – looking to purchase the vendor's dumplings. 'I'm here in an effort to try to restore community and to ask you to sell me pierogi in the interest of keeping the island together so we don't have to have two pierogi stands: one for anti-Zionists and one for people who will sell to anybody,' Dershowitz said. 'So I'd ask you to please just sell me any one of your products to show that you're prepared to sell to anybody and not allow your anti-Zionism to decide which people you'll sell to.' Miskevich did not budge, telling Dershowitz that they were 'very surprised that you're here because of the things that you've been saying about us and the business online,' while others rejected Dershowitz's blanket accusations of anti-Zionism and antisemitism. Good Pierogi later posted on social media to thank customers for 'showing up for us in such a visible and powerful way,' adding that they are 'saddened by the lengths to which a disgruntled person will go' and that they 'will not give them any more air.' As for Dershowitz's threats to sue the farmer's market and Good Pierogi for discrimination, legal experts have said that he would likely lose on the merits of the case if he decided to go to court. 'If he tried to claim that he was denied service based on his politics or the clients he has served, it would seem no,' powerhouse law firm Kelley Drye noted. 'Neither Massachusetts state law nor federal law recognize a claim for discrimination on the basis of political beliefs, affiliations, or activities in public accommodations. In fact, almost all jurisdictions, including New York, do not protect political beliefs or political associations under the applicable public accommodation laws.' Dershowitz's past representation of Epstein has attracted renewed interest in recent weeks amid uproar over the Trump administration's handling of the disgraced financier's case. The lawyer helped negotiate a plea deal in 2008 that granted Epstein immunity from federal charges related to sexual abuse of minors, allowing the disgraced financier to plead guilty to state charges of procuring prostitution of an underage girl, in which he served just a 13-month sentence.
The Independent
16 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Mar-a-Lago member offers free pierogi for life to Alan Dershowitz after Martha's Vineyard rebuff
With a Martha's Vineyard vendor refusing to cede to Alan Dershowitz's pierogi demands, a South Florida restaurant owner -- who happens to be a member of Donald Trump's private Mar-a-lago resort -- has stepped up and offered free dumplings for life to the former Jeffrey Epstein lawyer. In the latest of Dershowitz's social sufferings at the exclusive summer playground for the ultra-wealthy, the one-time Trump attorney threatened to file a discrimination lawsuit after he was denied pierogi at a farmer's market in July. Dershowitz claimed that the owner of Good Pierogi refused to serve him 'for political reasons' and his support of Zionist causes, suggesting the vendor was antisemitic. After railing against the 'bigoted vendor' online, claiming Good Pierogi's food was 'tainted with the poison of antisemitism' and urging others to boycott the stand, Dershowitz returned to the market last week to once again try to buy some of the doughy treats. Instead, owner Krem Miskevich – who has cited Dershowitz's defense of Epstein as the reason to refuse him service – again turned him away. Good Pierogi supporters chanted 'time to go' at the famed lawyer. After Dershowitz ran to MAGA-supporting media to complain about the ongoing ordeal of his pierogi-less existence on the island, a sympathetic restaurateur came to the rescue to fill all of the 86-year-old Harvard Law emeritus' Eastern European dumpling needs. 'Pierogi should bring people together — not divide them,' Peter Nowocien, owner of PierogiOne restaurant, told the New York Post this week. Nowocien, who is a member of Mar-a-Lago and recently hosted an event at the president's South Florida club, said that no one should ever be denied pierogi before declaring that he'd send Dershowitz and his family free food for life. The restaurant owner, a Polish immigrant who moved to the United States six years ago, told the Post that 'Dershowitz's disturbing experience did not sit right' with him because of his experience growing up in the shadow of Poland's communist regime. 'As a Polish immigrant, I hate to hear about discrimination in the US because of people's political views. That shouldn't happen here,' the Trump-supporting Nowocien said, adding that his father fought against communism. 'Discrimination breeds injustice.' Nowocien also noted that while Dershowitz, who is Jewish, may not be willing to sample his restaurant's Philly cheesesteak, spicy beef, or bacon and cheddar pierogi options, the lawyer could choose the classic cheese and potato variety. Meanwhile, it would appear that – at least for the time being – Dershowitz is going to stop trying to force Good Pierogi to serve him. Following last week's spectacle that saw him shouted out of the market, Semafor's Max Tani asked Dershowitz whether he would return over the weekend to try again. 'Heading to Israel, where they will sell me better pierogi,' the lawyer, who is a fervent supporter of pro-Israeli causes, replied. The Independent has contacted Dershowitz for comment. Dershowitz's war on the West Tisbury pierogi stand began in earnest at the end of last month, when he made a huge public stink after Miskevich refused to sell to him, prompting him to upload a 30-minute video about the 'bigoted vendor' while threatening a lawsuit against Good Pierogi and the local farmer's market. While noting that Miskevich brought up his past defense of deceased sex offender Epstein when refusing him service, Dershowitz has since alleged that the vendor – who is Jewish – turned him away because they are antisemitic. (Miskevinc uses they/them pronouns.) 'As I correctly suspected, the bigot who refused to sell me perogi [sic] — Krem Miskevich — is a notorious anti-semite who is part of an anti-semitic organization that protests Jewish — not only Israeli— cultural events and doesn't believe in Israel's right to exist or to respond to what these haters regard as the 'justified' massacres of Oct 7,' Dershowitz tweeted last week, adding: 'Don't patronize anti-semites who refuse to sell to Jewish Zionists.' Miskevich responded to Dershowitz's accusations by noting that they 'experienced a surge of emotion' when the lawyer appeared at the stand last month because he's represented and befriended 'several sexual predators and abusers including Jeffrey Epstein,' adding that they know many people who have been sexual assault victims. Miskevich also said Dershowitz 'began to harass us, misgender me, and film us without our consent.' Additionally, they pointed out that not only are they Jewish, but they have immediate family members in Israel and friends on the island sometimes refer to them as 'Rabbi Klem.' Despite Dershowitz's vow to boycott Good Pierogi, the celebrity attorney turned up Wednesday to join the long line of customers – most of whom were there to show support for Good Pierogi – looking to purchase the vendor's dumplings. 'I'm here in an effort to try to restore community and to ask you to sell me pierogi in the interest of keeping the island together so we don't have to have two pierogi stands: one for anti-Zionists and one for people who will sell to anybody,' Dershowitz said. 'So I'd ask you to please just sell me any one of your products to show that you're prepared to sell to anybody and not allow your anti-Zionism to decide which people you'll sell to.' Miskevich did not budge, telling Dershowitz that they were 'very surprised that you're here because of the things that you've been saying about us and the business online,' while others rejected Dershowitz's blanket accusations of anti-Zionism and antisemitism. Good Pierogi later posted on social media to thank customers for 'showing up for us in such a visible and powerful way,' adding that they are 'saddened by the lengths to which a disgruntled person will go' and that they 'will not give them any more air.' As for Dershowitz's threats to sue the farmer's market and Good Pierogi for discrimination, legal experts have said that he would likely lose on the merits of the case if he decided to go to court. 'If he tried to claim that he was denied service based on his politics or the clients he has served, it would seem no,' powerhouse law firm Kelley Drye noted. 'Neither Massachusetts state law nor federal law recognize a claim for discrimination on the basis of political beliefs, affiliations, or activities in public accommodations. In fact, almost all jurisdictions, including New York, do not protect political beliefs or political associations under the applicable public accommodation laws.' Dershowitz's past representation of Epstein has attracted renewed interest in recent weeks amid uproar over the Trump administration's handling of the disgraced financier's case. The lawyer helped negotiate a plea deal in 2008 that granted Epstein immunity from federal charges related to sexual abuse of minors, allowing the disgraced financier to plead guilty to state charges of procuring prostitution of an underage girl, in which he served just a 13-month sentence.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Alan Dershowitz once again denied pierogi as Martha's Vineyard residents chant ‘time to go'
For the second week in a row, Alan Dershowitz was denied pierogi at a farmer's market in Martha's Vineyard, marking yet another summer of social angst at the exclusive enclave for the former Jeffrey Epstein lawyer. Following days of legal threats and accusations of antisemitism lobbed at the owners of Good Pierogi following last week's incident when the vendor denied him service, Dershowitz showed back up on Wednesday to once again purchase some potato-stuffed dumplings in 'an effort to try to restore community.' With a large crowd of supporters backing them, the vendor refused to back down against the famed defense attorney and continued to rebuff Dershowitz's pleas for pierogi, leaving him empty-handed once again. 'Time to go,' the supporters chanted. 'Go home, Alan!' Last week, Dershowitz put the West Tisbury Farmers Market in the national spotlight when he threatened legal action after Good Pierogi owner Krem Miskevich refused to serve him. Dershowitz would tell police officers on the scene that he was the victim of discrimination, and later posted to social media that he was suing the 'bigoted vendor' for denying him pierogi 'for political reasons.' Saying that much of the backlash against him centered on his defense of Donald Trump and Epstein, the deceased sex offender who has been back in the news lately, Dershowitz has also insisted that this is really about his Jewish heritage and fervent support for Israel. Over the weekend, Dershowitz passed out fliers at the market that accused vendors of being antisemitic, following that up with a tweet this week that claimed that Good Pierogi's food was 'tainted with the poison of antisemitism' while urging others to boycott the establishment. 'As I correctly suspected, the bigot who refused to sell me perogi — Krem Miskevich — is a notorious anti-semite who is part of an anti-semitic organization that protests Jewish — not only Israeli— cultural events and doesn't believe in Israel's right to exist or to respond to what these haters regard as the 'justified' massacres of Oct 7,' he posted on Monday, adding: 'Don't patronize anti-semites who refuse to sell to Jewish Zionists.' Miskevich, who uses they/them pronouns, has yet to speak to the press about the kerfuffle but did post on Good Pierogi's Instagram account a lengthy response to Dershowitz's accusations and what sparked the incident last week. Miskevich, who co-owns Good Pierogi with their spouse Lily Rose, said they 'experienced a surge of emotion' when Dershowitz appeared at their tent last week because he's represented and befriended 'several sexual predators and abusers including Jeffrey Epstein.' Miskevich added that when it gave them pause to sell to Dershowitz, the Harvard Law emeritus 'began to harass us, misgender me, and film us without our consent.' As for Dershowitz's antisemitism claims, Miskevich noted that they are Jewish and have immediate family members in Israel, noting that friends call them 'Rabbi Krem' and that they have personal relationships with other rabbis on the island. 'Finally, we don't back down to bullies – no matter their size,' Miskevich concluded the Tuesday night post. Despite calling on others to shun Good Pierogi over their 'bigotry,' Dershowitz joined the long line of customers on Wednesday after the market opened – most of whom were there to show their support for the vendor amid Dershowitz's legal threats. With anticipation growing for another confrontation with media onlookers and supporters encircling the tent, Dershowitz made his way to the front of the line and claimed he was there to bring harmony back to the island – just as long as Miskevich acknowledged they were in the wrong. 'I'm here in an effort to try to restore community and to ask you to sell me pierogi in the interest of keeping the island together so we don't have to have two pierogi stands: one for anti-Zionists and one for people who will sell to anybody,' he declared. 'So I'd ask you to please just sell me any one of your products to show that you're prepared to sell to anybody and not allow your anti-Zionism to decide which people you'll sell to.' At the same time, he came armed with a paperback version of one of his books that he wanted to give Miskevich – which he also noted he had personally signed. 'I am very surprised that you're here because of the things that you've been saying about us and the business online,' the Good Pierogi chef reacted. 'I really do not appreciate what you've been sharing in the last week.' Dershowitz insisted that everything he said was 'true,' prompting Miskevich to ask him to provide proof that they are antisemitic. Dershowitz pointed to Miskevich's participation in a protest outside the island's Jewish Culture Festival last year. Talia Weingarten, who helped organize that protest, pushed back on Dershowitz's generalization about the demonstration, claiming it was largely about taking a stand against genocide and oppression in Gaza. At the time of the protest, Weingarten told the Martha's Vineyard Times that it was to partially object to the appearance of music artist Matisyahu, who has been outspoken in his support of the Israeli Defense Force. 'We are here to reject the presence of someone who performs and fundraises for the Israeli Occupation Forces and the AIPAC lobbying group, condones violence against the Palestinian people and land in the name of Jewish safety, and denies ongoing genocide, as an extension of our Jewish values,' she said. At one point in the back-and-forth, Miskevich took issue with Dershowitz repeatedly misgendering them, prompting the high-profile lawyer to concede the point. 'You are they, you are them. I'm happy to use whatever pronouns you want,' he said. Supporters of Good Pierogi eventually began clamoring for Dershowtiz to leave while defending Miskevich, leading the celebrity attorney to accuse them of 'bigotry' and sparking an even louder argument. 'My grandparents died in the Holocaust! Don't you call me an antisemite,' one customer shouted while another added: 'My Jewish culture is a history of resistance to genocide. We are not antisemites, we stand against the oppression of all people.' Meanwhile, as Miskevich begged Dershowitz to stop being a 'bully' and calling them 'bigots,' he groused: 'You're the one who won't sell me my pierogi!' At this point, marketgoers began chanting 'time to go' before the market manager stepped in and asked Dershowitz to leave. In the end, Dershowitz shuffled off without any pierogi while the crowd loudly applauded. This time, at least, the police did not get involved. Interviewed by the Martha's Vineyard Times about the interaction, Dershowitz said he 'predicted' that Good Pierogi would receive ample support from the community because 'much of Martha's Vineyard is anti-Israel.' He also waved off Good Pierogi's Instagram post as a 'post facto excuse,' claiming 'some of the worst antisemites in the world have Jewish background and Jewish heritage.' On the other hand, other residents and longtime visitors said it was essential to support their local vendors, especially in situations where they are suddenly thrust into national controversy. 'I think, in particular, the comments that they made on social media [were] really profound and important,' Kirsten Stevenson told the Times. 'I was disappointed with what happened last week and I want to be here and support them.' In the meantime, local attorneys have said that Dershowitz's legal threats against Good Pierogi and the farmer's market are on shaky legal ground. One of Dershowitz's demands is that the market write into its bylaws that vendors have to sell to everybody. '[Experts] highlighted that unlike race or religion, political beliefs are not given that same type of protection for consumers,' the Times reported. 'Zionism isn't a protected status since it's considered a political movement, but Dershowitz called this 'too simple-minded,' saying Zionism is an important part of his Judaism.'
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alan Dershowitz vows to sue Martha's Vineyard pierogi stand over snub
Controversial attorney Alan Dershowitz says he is suing a Martha's Vineyard farmers market vendor for allegedly refusing to serve him pierogi because of his political views. The polarizing defense attorney, whose famous clients include Jeffrey Epstein and President Donald Trump, described the incident on Thursday's episode of his podcast, 'The Dershow with Alan Dershowitz,' saying he was turned away for political reasons after ordering half a dozen of the traditional Polish dumplings. 'Bigoted vendor at Martha's Vineyard farmers market refused to sell to me because of my political views,' he posted on X earlier this week. 'I'm suing.' According to Dershowitz, he was waiting for a glass of the 'best orange juice in the world' he had just ordered when he walked across the area to a pierogi vendor. 'So I went there and I said, 'Oh, can I have six pierogi?' And he said, 'No,'' Dershowitz said. When he asked the vendor if there weren't any left, the answer surprised him. 'No, no, no. We have plenty of pierogi. I just won't sell them to you,' the vendor reportedly said. When pressed for an explanation, the vendor told Dershowitz he wouldn't sell them to him because he did not approve of his politics, whom he had represented, and whom he supported, according to the controversial Harvard Law professor. The 'clear implication' was that the vendor opposed Dershowitz because he defended then-first-term President Donald Trump during his first impeachment trial in 2020, and because of a T-shirt he had worn to the farmers market a week earlier. 'I was wearing a 'Proud American Zionist' shirt (in) red, white and blue — and I recall that he looked at it strangely,' Dershowitz said, later referring to the incident as 'pure McCarthyism.' A video shared on Instagram appears to show a police officer approaching Dershowitz during the incident before pulling him aside. The person who shared the video said in the caption that they had stopped the polarizing lawyer from 'harassing a vendor' who wouldn't serve him pierogi. 'I made a statement to the police and they threatened to trespass him if he bothered any more vendors,' Instagram user bungee4 wrote. 'Three refused him! The police took a witness statement from me. No one else wanted to do it because he sues everyone here. Total scum!' _____
