Alan Dershowitz announced Monday he is leaving the Democratic Party after 67 years and Democrats couldn't be happier to see him go.
The Harvard Law professor emeritus wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that he is registering as a Republican, citing the Democratic Party's stance on Israel as a bridge too far. He acknowledged he still disagrees with Republicans on abortion, immigration, healthcare, taxes and the separation of church and state, but said he was going "whole hog" anyway.
"By registering as a Republican rather than an independent, maybe I can have some influence on moving some Republican policies toward the center. I have given up on trying to change the Democratic Party," he lamented.
The response from the left was swift, gleeful and almost entirely devoid of regret.
"I can't think of anything better for the Democratic Party than Alan Dershowitz not being a part of it," former Obama national security adviser Ben Rhodes wrote on X.
"Good riddance to bigoted Epstein Air frequent flier and atrocity denier Alan Dershowitz," wrote Dylan Williams, vice president for government affairs at the Center for International Policy.
Progressive commentator Zaid Jilani landed perhaps the sharpest jab, noting the irony of a man who spent his career decrying the "dual loyalty" trope, announcing he would vote Republican solely because of another country's interests.
"Maybe the Republicans will proudly tout the endorsement of Epstein's lawyer," Jilani added. "Who knows?"
Even some on the right weren't exactly rolling out the welcome mat. Conservative activist Christopher Rufo called Dershowitz another entry in what he described as "the Right is a dumping ground for failed celebrities and MeToo cases."
Dershowitz, who defended Jeffrey Epstein and was accused by one of Epstein's victims of sexual misconduct — accusations he has vigorously denied — said he hopes to move the Republican Party toward the center from within.