Scott Jennings on Tuesday made the remarkable claim that if President Donald Trump had any involvement in the crimes of late child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, the public “would already know it” — despite a trove of classified documents in the matter still awaiting release.

“I think he’s sick of being accused by Democrats and a lot of people in the media of having had something to do with Epstein when he had nothing to do with Epstein,” said Jennings at the top of the show. “There’s not a shred of evidence he ever did anything wrong.”

Fellow panelist and film producer Franklin Leonard challenged the logic behind that notion, as many files have clearly not yet been released. Leonard said he’d like to see them before absolving Trump ― whom Epstein once called his “closest friend” ― of potential wrongdoing.

“You think after 10 years of public life, you wouldn’t know it already?” Jennings asked, prompting Leonard to swiftly note: “No, I don’t — that’s exactly the point.”

Jennings argued that the focus on Trump is “an I.Q. test,” urging Leonard not to “fail it.”

Phillip noted that a current lack of confirmed evidence about Trump’s potential criminal involvement does not mean “nothing has happened.” Jennings doubled down and returned his focus to Leonard, however, who had merely said he’d like to see the evidence.

“My question directly to him is, if you think after 10 years, three presidential campaigns and Democrats unleashing holy hell on him, you wouldn’t know about—” Jennings reiterated, before Phillip interrupted to demand: “Scott, answer your own question.”

The other panelists ultimately chimed in to deliver their own takes before Jennings could reply. Pollster and political researcher Joshua Doss eventually noted Jennings was “calling into question this Black man’s intelligence with the I.Q. test” dig at Leonard.

Jennings pushed back, calling it “ridiculous.”

He later reiterated his stance that Trump is innocent in regard to Epstein, who infamously wrote in recently released emails that Trump “knew about the girls” he was abusing — and that the president once “spent hours at my house” with one of the victims.

“Look, here’s what I think has been going on for 10 years,” said Jennings. “If there was a shred of anything to know about Donald Trump, we would already know it.”

A unanimous consent vote Tuesday in the Senate has sent legislation for the new Epstein Transparency Act to Trump’s desk in bipartisan hopes for his signature.

Join OurMission: SupportIndependent News

Your SupportFuelsOur Mission

Your SupportFuelsOur Mission

We believe our mission of independent journalism has never been more important. Increasing pressure from politicians and billionaire media owners is irrevocably impacting our industry. Yet HuffPost has never been more committed.

We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves.

Thank you again for your support along the way. We’re truly grateful for readers like you! Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times. Now as we continue, we need your help more than ever. We hope you will join us once again.

We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves.

Thank you again for your support along the way. We’re truly grateful for readers like you! Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times. Now as we continue, we need your help more than ever. We hope you will join us once again.

“Our fierce, independent reporting and unvarnished perspective hold power to account and inform millions of readers. Please support this hard-hitting journalism.”

Whitney SnyderEditor-in-Chief Huffpost

Support $5/month(about $0.17/day)

Silver Huffposter 🤍

• Monthly recurring supporter-only email
• Fewer requests for financial support

Support $10/month(about $0.33/day)

Gold

• Everything in the Silver Tier
• Ad-free access on the HuffPost website OR HuffPost apps
• Say goodbye to annoying video interruptions while you read. No more autoplay videos.

Support $20/month(about $0.67/day)

Platinum HuffPoster 🏆

• Everything in the Gold Tier
• Ad-free access on the HuffPost website AND HuffPost apps
• Early access to new features
• Membership to Platinum Club focus group

Make a One Time Contribution

Support HuffPost

Already a member? Log in to hide these messages.