CNN host Kassie Hunt was caught off guard on Thursday after a Democratic lawmaker and GOP strategist got into a heated argument on her show.
Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH) and GOP strategist Brad Todd joined Hunt on "The Arena with Kassie Hunt" to discuss the news of the day, which included Trump visiting the Federal Reserve headquarters to check out the renovation project. The conversation quickly escalated after Landsman claimed Republicans shut down the House of Representatives to avoid a bipartisan vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files.
"They are protecting this administration, and other names that are in the files, and they shut Congress down," Landsman said. "So, I didn't get to vote today. I didn't get to do my job, and that's why we're talking about it."
"They are in the midst of a massive cover-up, and they don't know what to do," he continued.
Landsman's comments come at a time when the Trump administration seeks to distance itself from the Epstein saga. Over the last week, administration officials have re-launched investigations into Hillary Clinton's use of a personal server and Barack Obama's involvement in the 2016 investigation into Russia's election interference, two stories that have resonated with the MAGA base.
However, the distraction attempts don't appear to be working. Some Republican members of Congress including Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) have continued to call on the administration to release the files to the public.
Todd shot back that Democrats should have released the files when Joe Biden was president.
"That line of reasoning is not working," Landsman said.
As the two argued, Hunt jumped in to try and move the show along.
"We've clearly touched a nerve," she said.
