Megyn Kelly leaves people shocked with ‘disgusting’ reason why she doesn’t think Epstein was a pedophile

Megyn Kelly has caused huge controversy after explaining on her show why she doesn't think Jeffrey Epstein was a pedophile.

Epstein was found dead in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, New York City in August 2019.

The financier had been arrested earlier on in that year and died aged 66 while awaiting trial for charges related to sex trafficking - charges to which he pleaded not guilty.

He was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008, and subsequently served 13 months in prison.

Political commentator Kelly discussed the Epstein case on Wednesday's episode of The Megyn Kelly Show, where she remarkably claimed Epstein was not a pedophile as he 'was into the barely legal type'.

She said: "I know somebody very close to this case to the point where they know virtually everything. 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."

Megyn Kelly's comments have shocked many (John Nacion/Getty Images)

The age of consent in the US ranges from 16-18 depending on the state.

Kelly continued: "I realize this is disgusting and I'm not trying to make an excuse for this; I'm giving you facts. He wasn't into eight year olds, he liked very young teen types that would look legal to the passerby. There's a difference between a 15 year old and a five year old."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the comments have not gone down well online, with many on Reddit left shocked by Kelly's comments.

"Oh man, are these the f****** talking points? Because this is f****** disgusting," one person asked, while a second stated the conservative should be 'ashamed' by her comments.

UNILAD has reached out to Kelly's representatives for comment.

It comes after documents were released by the Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into Epstein and convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell. They released three separate emails in which Epstein mentioned Trump, with one claiming an individual known as 'Victim 1' 'spent many hours' with Trump.

(Kypros/Getty Images)

While the name was withheld, the White House has claimed the alleged victim is Virginia Giuffre, who said before her death she didn't witness any wrongdoing from the president during her interactions with him.

In a statement provided to UNILAD, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: "The Democrats selectively leaked emails to the liberal media to create a fake narrative to smear President Trump.

"The ‘unnamed victim’ referenced in these emails is the late Virginia Giuffre, who repeatedly said President Trump was not involved in any wrongdoing whatsoever and ‘couldn’t have been friendlier’ to her in their limited interactions."

The president has long maintained he was not aware of Epstein's crimes.