Fox News host Megyn Kelly and former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich got into a fascinating free-for-all last night over Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and the accusations of sexual assault that followed the revelation of the Access Hollywood tape.
More fascinating: The entire exchange was posted on YouTube by Trump’s campaign. Take a look:
A partial transcript:
Kelly: If Trump is a sexual predator, that is –
Gingrich: He's not a sexual predator. You could not defend that statement. Now, I'm sick and tired of people like you, using language that's inflammatory that's not true.
Kelly: Excuse me, Mr. Speaker. You have no idea whether it's true or not. What we know is that there are at least –
Gingrich: Neither do you.
Kelly: That's right. And I'm not taking a position on it.
Gingrich: Yes, you are. When you used the words, you took a position. And I think that's very unfair of you to do that, Megyn. I think that is exactly the bias people are upset by.
Kelly: I think your defensiveness on this may speak volumes, sir….What I said is if Trump is a sexual predator, then it's a big story. And what we saw on that tape was Trump himself saying he likes to grab women by the genitals and kiss them against their will. That's what we saw. Then we saw 10 women come forward after he denied actually doing it at a debate, to say that was untrue….
He denies it all, which is his right. We don't know what the truth is. My point to you is, as a media story, we don't get to say that 10 women are lying. We have to cover that story, sir.
Gingrich: So it's worth 23 minutes of the three networks to cover that story, and Hillary Clinton in a secret speech in Brazil, to a bank that pays her 225,000 [dollars], saying her dream is an open border where 600 million people could come to America – that's not worth covering.
Kelly: That is worth covering. And we do.
Gingrich: Have you gone back to look at tapes of your show recently? You are fascinated with sex, and you don't care about public policy. That's what I get out of watching you tonight.
Kelly: You know what, Mr. Speaker? I'm not fascinated by sex. But I am fascinated by the protection of women. And understanding what we're getting in the Oval Office.
Gingrich: And therefore we're going to send Bill Clinton back to the East Wing because, after all, you are worried about sexual predators.
Kelly: Yeah. Listen, it's not about me. It's about the men and women of America. The poll numbers show us that the women in America in particular are very concerned about these allegations, and believe that, in large part, they are a real issue….
Gingrich: You want to comment on whether the Clinton ticket has a relationship to a sexual predator?...I want to hear you use the words. I want you to hear you use the words, 'Bill Clinton, sexual predator.' I dare you. Say 'Bill Clinton, sexual predator.'…
Kelly: We on the Kelly File have covered the Clinton matter as well….But he's not on the ticket….We're going to have to leave it at that, and you can take your anger issues and spend some time working on them, Mr. Speaker. Thanks for being here.
Gingrich: And you, too.
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