'You're not getting away with this': Fireworks on CNN as GOP rep pressed on Epstein files

A CNN anchor got in a fiery exchange with a GOP lawmaker over the Epstein files on Tuesday, just ahead of the vote.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) was in a conversation with CNN's Boris Sanchez about the discharge petition when the conversation turned into a yelling match — with both of the men speaking over each other — after Sanchez brought up questions of what President Donald Trump knows about the information in the files.

Van Orden said he had met with four of the women who are survivors of Epstein, and he plans to vote to call for a release of the information. He also added that there needs to be protections for the victims, but that there were "no adequate" protections for them in the current discharge petition he called "poorly written legislation."

Van Orden blamed Biden and Democrats for not releasing the information sooner.

"I want to be extremely clear and make it clear to our viewers that the president has not been accused of any wrongdoing in these emails or throughout this process, a large portion of them came before he was even in office. But it is notable that the relationship comes up again and again in these emails. Do you have questions for the president about their relationship? Does it make you at all curious about it?"

Instead of answering the question, Van Orden shifted the conversation to Democratic Rep. Stacey Plaskett, who was reportedly live-texting Epstein during an Oversight Committee hearing about the late financier and convicted child abuser.

"Well, here's what else Jeffrey Epstein wrote. He wrote several text messages to congresswoman Plaskett while she was sitting on the Oversight Committee in an oversight hearing about Jeffrey Epstein, and she was asking him what questions to ask Michael Cohen. Now, that would not have come out if this discharge petition was only signed. That only came out because the Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Jeffrey Epstein estate."

Van Orden also claimed that Plaskett received more than $30,000 from Epstein and "refused to return that money." He added that the DNC refused to return a donation of $32,000 from Epstein — calling it "blood money."

Sanchez then tried to shift the conversation back to the president, and Van Orden fired back.

"We have a limited amount of time because you're going to interview her next. Is that right? Is she going to be on your show and explain herself?" Van Orden asked.

"We'd be more than happy to have her on. Congressman, I believe that Mrs. Plaskett has refuted those characterizations. However, that doesn't answer the question of what questions you might have for President Trump based on these emails."

That's when it escalated between the two, and they started yelling.

"Hold on a second," Van Orden said.

"Congressman, I asked you about President Trump's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. You started talking about Mrs. Plaskett. I want to get your thoughts on President Trump and what you might ask him based on this information that's come out," Sanchez said.

"I get it. So you're just not going to get away with this," Van Orden replied.

"They get away with timestamped text messages, timestamped text messages from Jeffrey Epstein..." Van Orden added.

"As I said, Miss Plaskett has refuted those characterizations. I would be more than happy to ask her these questions, but I was asking you specifically, Congressman Van Orden, what questions do you have for President Trump about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, given these emails that we've seen, given the photos of them together, given the videos of them together, when the president says Epstein was only friends with Democrats.

Then, Van Orden tried to calm things down.

"Listen, you and I can refute the fact that we're bald. That doesn't mean we're going to grow hair tomorrow," Van Orden said. "So we have to focus on some really devious things. And when I mean, I don't think people understand what this means. This woman was responsible for the oversight of the investigation of these monsters that abused these women repeatedly. And she's live texting with this guy, and he's telling her what questions to ask the witness. Now, those are questions that really need to be asked, not the hypothetical questions that you're asking me, sir."

Sanchez fired back again before winding the interview down.

"She again, she has refuted that characterization. She's more than welcome to come on our show and discuss it," Sanchez added.