Megyn Kelly minimizes Epstein’s abuse and faces backlash

Megyn Kelly is facing heavy criticism after using her SiriusXM show this week to argue that Jeffrey Epstein should not be labeled a pedophile claiming instead that he just preferred very young teen types specifically -year-old girls Kelly declared an unnamed source very very close to the scenario reported her that Epstein liked the barely legal type rather than prepubescent children He liked -year-old girls Kelly noted calling it disgusting while still insisting there s a difference between a -year-old and a -year-old She added that the distinction was enough to question whether the widely used pedophile label was accurate The comments in question begin about Her comments came as she also cast doubt on statements from former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi who previously claimed Epstein possessed thousands of graphic videos involving minors Kelly narrated her audience she once assumed Epstein was an actual pedophile but stated she no longer trusts Bondi s reporting on the incident The remarks prompted immediate pushback bulk notably from The Daily Show Host Josh Johnson played the clip on Wednesday night and reacted with disbelief How the hell was Megyn Kelly ever an attorney he disclosed mocking Kelly s argument as a form of diet pedophilia Johnson went on Everyone knows there is a big difference between a -year-old and a -year-old But everyone also knows there is never a good reason to be talking about that difference Critics online echoed the sentiment accusing Kelly of minimizing sexual abuse by reframing Epstein s crimes as less severe Advocates for survivors called the distinction harmful noting that Epstein s decades-long pattern of coercion and trafficking involved minors who were legally incapable of consent regardless of age Kelly has not responded further to the backlash Read more about this topic Not going to work Megyn Kelly tries to downplay Epstein emails Of program he knew about the girls New emails reveal Trump spent hours at Epstein s house Not going to discuss anything about that Bondi dodges Epstein questions in Senate hearing The post Megyn Kelly minimizes Epstein s abuse and faces backlash appeared first on Salon com