The panel on CNN’s “NewNight with Abby Phillip” erupted after a MAGA star attempted to downplay the significance of the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Kevin O’Leary, CEO of O’Leary Ventures, claimed that the Epstein case is irrelevant to average Americans. His comments come at a time when President Donald Trump is seeking to distance himself from the Epstein saga, which has fractured his base and consumed his administration for the last couple of weeks.
“He’s still dead,” O’Leary said exasperatedly. “Oh, how I wish he wasn’t still dead.”
“There are real women and girls who suffered!” Keith Boykin, a former White House aide in the Clinton administration, shouted at O’Leary.
Host Abby Phillip interjected before the conversation completely devolved. “So, what’s the point? What are you trying to say?” she asked O’Leary.
“The point is it’s irrelevant now. It doesn’t matter,” O’Leary shot back.
The part of Trump’s base that is following his lead on the Epstein files has been searching for an excuse not to release the files, as Trump promised during the campaign. One recent refrain is that Epstein is no longer alive, and therefore cannot defend himself, as O’Leary argued.
“Tell me how this affects the average American tomorrow morning,” O’Leary continued.
“I can!” exclaimed Young Turks host Ana Kasparian. Kasparian then argued that the average American wants to know whether the people governing the country are criminals.
“People want to know if there are pedophiles who abuse women or girls in the government,” Kasparian said.