Megyn Kelly Faces Backlash for Downplaying Epstein Abuse

Megyn Kelly has landed at the center of another storm.

The conservative political commentator this time faces backlash for her comments about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his victims.

The controversy stems from statements the former Fox News host made on the Wednesday, Nov. 12 episode of “The Megyn Kelly Show” podcast.

Kelly insisted congressional Democrats are trying to “smear” President Donald Trump by releasing emails Epstein sent mentioning Trump.

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Megyn Kelly: “I know somebody very close to this case…Jeffrey Epstein, in this person’s view, was not a pedophile…He was into the barely legal type, like he liked 15 year old girls…He wasn’t into like 8 year olds…There’s a difference between a 15 year old and a 5 year old.” pic.twitter.com/a7wmT3BRJU

— Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) November 13, 2025

While discussing the Epstein files, Kelly said she’s familiar with “somebody very, very close to this case” who knows “virtually everything” about Epstein.

“Jeffrey Epstein, in this person’s view, was not a pedophile. This is this person’s view, who was there for a lot of this, but that he was into the barely legal type. Like, he liked 15-year-old girls,” Kelly said.

She added, “I realize this is disgusting. I’m definitely not trying to make an excuse for this, I’m just giving you facts. That he wasn’t into like 8 year olds, but he liked the very young teen types that could pass for even younger than they were.”

Kelly trended on X for two days over her comments, with some users saying she was downplaying Epstein’s abuse. Others said she’s starting to sound like disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly, who was convicted for child pornography and enticement of minors.

“A friend called her Megyn R. Kelly and that should stick,” Democratic Tennessee state Rep. Gloria Johnson wrote on X.

Added Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts, “Megyn Kelly is using her platform and power to portray Epstein and Trump as horny men, as opposed to sexual predators or pedophiles.”

Political consultant Ally Sammarco posted, “This is career-ending for Megyn Kelly. 15 year olds are CHILDREN. They can’t drive. They can’t see rated R movies. But disgusting 50 year old men should be allowed to rape them? Goodbye. Forever.”

In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to charges in Florida for solicitating prostitution from someone under age 18, after a 14-year-old girl’s parents told police the teen was molested at his mansion.

Then in 2019, federal prosecutors in New York charged him with sex trafficking minors. He died by apparent suicide in his jail cell before standing trial.

Epstein is back in the news after Democrats in Congress this week began releasing communications he had with friends, family members and famous associates.

In one email to former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein called Trump the “dog that hasn’t barked.” Politico reported the reference apparently meant Trump had not revealed details about Epstein’s activities. The financier also alleged Trump “spent hours” with one of the victims.

“I want you to realize that that dog that hasn’t barked is Trump,” Epstein wrote in 2011, according to ABC News. “[Victim] spent hours at my house with him , he has never once been mentioned.”

Another email mentioned Trump and the 2015 film Get Hard, starring Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart. The movie was about toughening up for a prison stint, but Epstein’s brother mentioned the title in a sexual connotation.

In a 2018 email, Mark Epstein asked him, “What is your boy Donald up to now?”

Jeffrey Epstein responded, “With Bannon now,” apparently referring to former White House adviser Steve Bannon. Mark Epstein suggested his brother find out if Russian President Vladimir Putin had compromising pictures of Trump and former President Bill Clinton.

“You and your boy Donnie could do a remake of the movie Get Hard,” Mark Epstein wrote. NBC News said Mark Epstein confirmed the email was real.

Republicans on the House Oversight Committee have accused Democrats of trying to “slander” Trump by releasing select documents, and withholding others that name democratic officials.

“Democrats continue to carelessly cherry-pick documents to generate click-bait that is not grounded in the facts,” a House Oversight Committee spokesperson for the majority told ABC News.

The spokesperson added, “The Epstein Estate has produced over 20,000 pages of documents on Thursday, yet Democrats are once again intentionally withholding records that name Democrat officials. The Committee is actively reviewing the documents and will release them publicly once all victim-identifying information has been appropriately redacted. Democrats should stop politicizing this investigation and focus on delivering transparency, accountability, and justice for the survivors.”