Megyn Kelly has raised questions over how to categorise Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes while discussing newly released emails in which the disgraced financier referenced Donald Trump. Speaking on the 12 November edition of her Sirius XM programme, The Megyn Kelly Show, the broadcaster acknowledged Epstein’s sexual abuse of underage girls but suggested she had previously been told he was “not a paedophile” in the strict sense. She argued that the distinction came from what she described as his preference for teenagers, while stressing that this was neither a defence nor an attempt to minimise the seriousness of his offences.
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During her conversation with guest Batya Ungar-Sargon, Kelly maintained that there was no evidence implicating Trump in Epstein’s criminal activity, despite the release of emails by the House Oversight Committee in which Epstein mentioned the former president. The documents, published by Democratic members before Republicans released a wider tranche of material from the Epstein estate, included an email in which Epstein referred to Trump’s presence at his home and another in which he claimed Trump had been aware of “the girls”. The White House responded by dismissing the emails as selective and misleading, insisting that Trump had not engaged in wrongdoing.
Kelly went on to say that she had long believed Epstein sought out young women close to the age of consent, rather than children, citing comments made by an unnamed source she described as highly knowledgeable about the case. She noted that her view shifted only after former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi claimed investigators had uncovered tens of thousands of child sexual abuse images on Epstein’s computer — a statement Kelly said she could not independently verify. The host added that no known victim had alleged abuse before the age of 14, arguing that, while all such crimes are reprehensible, there remains a distinction between the abuse of young teens and that of very young children.
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The debate over terminology came as political tensions rose around the document releases. A spokesperson for the White House stated that the alleged victim referenced in the emails was the late Virginia Giuffre, who had publicly said Trump was never inappropriate towards her. They added that Trump had removed Epstein from his club “decades ago” over his behaviour. Democrats, meanwhile, argued that the emails provided further insight into Epstein’s powerful connections. The exchange has reignited scrutiny of the case, the handling of past investigations and the competing political narratives surrounding Epstein’s legacy.
