Some things in life are just inexplicable. Donald Trump’s hair for instance. His complete inability and lack of caring to understand the severity of the coronavirus pandemic. And now Geraldo Rivera’s weird support of Trump’s support of Ghislaine Maxwell.
It’s difficult to understand why Rivera is defending the former girlfriend of the notorious (and now notoriously dead) billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, but he is. He’s on the whole “let bygones be bygones” road trip, saying in a tweet that he believes Maxwell deserves bail. Even though she faces charges of underage sex trafficking, according to Mediaite. [1]
Because, aw-shucks, it all happened decades ago.
“When asked @realDonaldTrump said he wished #GhislaineMaxwellArrested well. With media mob eager to see her lynched it was brave to weigh in. Fact: cases vs her are for crimes allegedly committed more than 25 years ago. She deserved bail & got solitary confinement: woke politics.”
When asked @realDonaldTrump [2] said he wished #GhislaineMaxwellArrested [3] well. With media mob eager to see her lynched it was brave to weigh in. Fact: cases vs her are for crimes allegedly committed more than 25 years ago. She deserved bail & got solitary confinement: woke politics.
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) July 22, 2020 [4]
During Tuesday’s press briefing on the coronavirus pandemic (after not having a briefing for months), Trump was asked about Maxwell, and he responded by saying, in part, [5] “I just wish her well, frankly … I’ve met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach. I guess they lived in Palm Beach. But I wish her well. Whatever it is.”
The Twitterati have now responded, with some noting this is the second time in two weeks that Rivera has come to Maxwell’s defense.
This is the second time in two weeks that Geraldo Rivera has publicly signaled support for Ghislaine Maxwell. Hmm. https://t.co/zc3DHzGd10 [6]
— Emma Vigeland (@EmmaVigeland) July 22, 2020 [7]
So #NotAllSexTraffickers [8], then? https://t.co/wmV2oBVFzt [9]
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) July 22, 2020 [10]
Some Twitter users see the situation for what it is.
Going all in on defending someone accused of sexually assaulting minors to help Trump save face is a choice. https://t.co/HXoG0CxEXc [11]
— Kara Swisher (@karaswisher) July 22, 2020 [12]
It's possible this is the worst hot take of all time.https://t.co/qVRLvk0kG0 [13]
— andrew kaczynski🤔 (@KFILE) July 22, 2020 [14]
If she had helped Epstein groom & rape your daughter, you wouldn’t care if it was 25 years or 25 days ago. Sexual assault of a minor is such a heinous crime many jurisdictions have long or no statute of limitations.
What a horrifically bad take. What dirt does she have on you?! https://t.co/eg1aG1rvTk [15]
— Sarah Rumpf (@rumpfshaker) July 22, 2020 [16]
Others noted Rivera’s tweet was inadvertently a two-for-one offer.
Here is Geraldo defending a child sex trafficker, and Trump in the same tweet. https://t.co/XltlwLjF4a [17]
— Gregg Housh (@GreggHoush) July 22, 2020 [18]
And one can’t help but offer:
What does Ghislane Maxwell have on Geraldo? https://t.co/OD45lD5XEv [19]
— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) July 22, 2020 [20]
Chip Roy, a Republican Congressman from Texas, had a few sharp words for Trump’s “unacceptably obtuse” comments regarding Maxwell on Wednesday, and he also called out Rivera by agreeing with Twitter user Sarah Rumpf (above):
“Yeah, I am with Sarah here. She does this crap to my daughter— I don’t care if it was 50 years ago — she should beg for solitary confinement.”
Yeah, I am with Sarah here. She does this crap to my daughter – I dont care if was 50 years ago – she should beg for solitary confinement. https://t.co/RS2x7SqDqY [21]
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) July 22, 2020 [22]
Appearing on Fox News last week, Rivera defended [23] Maxwell by saying she had been hiding from the press, not law enforcement over the past year. He also had sharp words for the judge presiding over the hearing.
“These charges relate to offenses that happened twenty-five years ago, 1994 to 1997,” he said. “I think these are charges that are wobbly on their face, and for this judge to chicken out and not give this suspect or this defendant bail, I think is copping out to the mob.”
I can understand why Trump might support Maxwell since more than a few people have alleged [24] he’s a pedophile, but it’s inexplicable to me how Rivera can do this. Maybe these cases have gone really cold, but I’m sure many of the young girls victimized by Epstein and (perhaps) Trump don’t feel this way. For them, I can guess this is a daily nightmare.