“Late Show” host Stephen Colbert on Wednesday took a closer look at some of the files related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that were released to the public earlier in the day.
In the emails, which Colbert called “damning,” Epstein claims that Trump ― who was once a close friend ― knew about his conduct.
In a 2015 message, journalist Michael Wolff emailed Epstein to say that CNN was going to ask Trump about his relationship with Epstein. Epstein wrote back offering to “craft” a message for Trump, according to the files.
“That is never a good sign when Jeffrey Epstein is trying to help you draft a response like some kind of perverted Clippy,” Colbert said.
Clippy was Microsoft’s universally disliked digital assistant, which would pop up and offer suggestions for whatever the user was working on.
“Looks like you’re trying to avoid questions about sex crimes,” Colbert said in the style of Clippy. “Would you like help? I can make it a newsletter.”
Wolff indicated Epstein could help Trump, “generating a debt” if he wins the White House.
“OK, that’s blackmail,” Colbert said. “And I would like to point out blackmail really only works when you’re blackmailing someone about something they did that they don’t want anyone to know about. That’s why you never hear a mobster say, ‘Hey, give me $1,000 or everyone’s gonna find out that you donate to Meals on Wheels.’”
See more in his Wednesday night monologue: