Joe Scarborough slams GOP over Epstein after UK arrests former Prince Andrew: 'Morally bankrupt'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: MSNBC’s 'Morning Joe' opened Thursday, February 19, with a sharp rebuke from co-host Joe Scarborough, who accused Republicans of hypocrisy and moral failure in their handling of matters connected to Jeffrey Epstein.

Scarborough’s remarks came just after reports from the United Kingdom that former Prince Andrew, the brother of King Charles, had been arrested as part of an Epstein-related investigation. 

He described the arrest as accountability abroad but argued there was lack of consequences in the United States.

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough says Republicans 'protecting' Epstein's network

Responding to the developments overseas, Scarborough turned his focus to congressional Republicans, particularly House Oversight Chair James Comer accusing them of failing to follow through on promises to fully investigate Epstein’s network.

“They’re protecting Republicans,” Scarborough said. “And so again, if you did something horrific or if you were extraordinarily close to Jeffrey Epstein, if you got caught lying time and time again about your relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, if you’re a Republican, you’re off the hook!”

Scarborough pointed to the recent deposition of retail billionaire Les Wexner as an example of what he described as selective engagement by Republican lawmakers.

The deposition was reportedly conducted after a subpoena motion from Democratic members, and while Republican committee staff attended, Scarborough noted that GOP lawmakers themselves were absent.

“In fact, Comer and his committee doesn’t even care about the man who started this hellscape. They don’t even show up for his deposition. That tells you how hypocritical and how morally bankrupt on this Epstein issue they are!” he said.

Joe Scarborough compares with former Prince Andrew's arrest

Scarborough then contrasted the American response with the reported arrest of Prince Andrew in the UK, arguing that officials overseas were willing to act decisively even when prominent figures are involved.

“All across the world. Gravity still holds. Moral gravity still holds in government. You know, Vice President JD Vance, always looking down the end of his little nose at Europe. Well, at least they have shame in Europe if somebody was hanging out with Jeffrey Epstein, there are consequences.” 

“No consequences here!” he exclaimed. Joe Scarborough claimed that US political institutions, in his view, have failed to impose accountability in similar circumstances.

Warning to the GOP base

Scarborough closed his remarks with a warning directed at Republican leadership, suggesting that the perceived inaction could alienate their own supporters.

“This is your own base you’re screwing. This is your own base you’re ignoring. This is your own base that you’re saying, ‘hey, don’t trust anything we Republicans say’, you’re doing that to yourself. And all the money and all the campaign stops by the president, all of that? That doesn’t help. That actually makes things worse for you, because you’re covering up for people who consorted with Jeffrey Epstein.”

He ended the segment bluntly: “Good luck with that”.