Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich angrily accused Fox News host Megyn Kelly of being "obsessed with sex" Tuesday when she brought up claims by women against Donald Trump he has groped them and otherwise made unwanted sexual advances.
Gingrich is a top adviser and surrogate for Trump's presidential campaign, and appeared via satellite on "The Kelly File" to discuss recent polls showing Trump is losing ground in several swing states.
Gingrich said two "alternative universes" will exist over the next two weeks in which pollsters do not use accurate data to measure voters' feelings. He said media, including Fox News, are not accurately looking at data.
Kelly challenged, and asked whether Trump himself holds some responsibility over an "Access Hollywood" recording of him making lewd statements in 2005, and the 11 women who have made public accusations against him.
Gingrich said Trump's numbers are low because most of the media coverage of him has been negative, while the same media ignores Clinton's email scandal.
"Let's assume she is corrupt," Kelly said. "She was just as corrupt three weeks ago and three months ago."
Yet Trump's poll numbers tanked after a bad first debate performance, followed by him talking about charges by a former Miss Universe he shamed her over her weight and Hispanic heritage. That was followed by the tape and the sexual allegations, she noted.
"If Trump is a sexual predator . . ." Kelly began.
"He's not a sexual predator," Gingrich shot back.
Kelly said she was only trying to make a hypothetical statement, but Gingrich, becoming visibly angry and shaking his finger at Kelly, said she was ignoring Bill Clinton's own history.
"I'm sick and tired of people like you using language that's inflammatory, that's not true," Gingrich said.
"Excuse me, Mr. Speaker, you have no idea whether it's true or not," she said, to which Gingrich replied, "Neither do you."
"I'm not taking a position on it," Kelly said, adding, "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. . . . We have to cover that story, sir."
"Sure, OK," Gingrich shot back. "So it's worth 23 minutes on the three networks to cover that story, and Hillary Clinton had a secret speech in Brazil to a bank that paid her $225,000 saying her dream is an open border where 600 million people can come to America is not worth covering."
Kelly said that story was worth covering, too, and Fox did cover it.
"You are fascinated with sex, and you don't care about public policy," Gingrich said.
"Me, really?" she replied.
"That's what I get out of watching you tonight," Gingrich said.
He noted she had pressed Trump running mate Mike Pence about the issue moments earlier.
Kelly said the allegations are a "real issue" that should be covered, since Trump is trying to win the highest office in the land.
"You want to comment on whether the Clinton ticket has a relationship to a sexual predator?" Gingrich asked.
"We on 'The Kelly File' have covered that story as well," she said.
"I want to hear your words: Bill Clinton sexual predator," Gingrich said. "I dare you. Say Bill Clinton, sexual predator."
Kelly did not repeat the words, and ended the interview.
"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," Kelly said.
"You too," Gingrich said.
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