A debate on “CNN News Central” turned contentious Monday as panelists clashed over President Donald Trump’s call for the release of all files tied to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The discussion centered on how Democrats and the media have framed the issue and whether the focus is being directed at Trump without evidence linking him to criminal activity.

Republican strategist Melik Abdul argued that Democrats are using the files to shape public perception against Trump, despite no documentation connecting him to crimes within the Epstein investigation.

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Abdul and Christine Quinn, the New York State Democratic Assembly executive committee chair, disagreed sharply on whether the political narrative surrounding the files is aimed at Trump.

“But I think what the frustration that Donald Trump and many people, even like me, who’ve been critical of Donald Trump at times, we realize that this is an effort, this whole Epstein effort, is an effort to really prosecute Donald Trump in the court of public opinion,” Abdul said.

“There is not a single shred of evidence that links Donald Trump to a single crime, not a victim, not a court case links Donald Trump into a crime. And I know that the media itself is aware of that. But the more you keep talking about it over and over again, linking Donald Trump to something potentially nefarious that actually gets the news cycle going. But everyone knows that there is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime. But I am glad that he ended up in this same space.”

Quinn countered that the matter is not centered on Trump and that the president is creating the impression that he is central to the files.

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She said the priority should be the victims of Epstein’s crimes.

“This isn’t about Donald Trump. We don’t know what’s in those files. He’s created the belief that there’s something about him in there because he won’t release them. This is about those women and girls who were victimized and raped and assaulted and getting the facts out there. Donald Trump is making it about Donald Trump. This is about the survivors and we need to focus on that,” Quinn said.

Abdul said the recent email release from House Democrats featured Trump, indicating a political motive rather than a focus on victims. He noted that the material overwhelmingly referenced the president.

“I just want to say that that’s a very nice narrative that it’s not about Donald Trump. If it were about Donald Trump, the 20 plus thousand pages that we have so far would mention someone other than one single person. This isn’t about concern for the victims. This is about Donald Trump for sure,” Abdul said.

Quinn objected to the suggestion that she lacked concern for victims.

“Don’t tell me I’m not concerned about victims. I’ve dedicated a big part of my life fighting for victims of sexual assault,” she said.

“Well, you should start mentioning other people’s names. You should start mentioning other people’s names other than Donald Trump,” Abdul replied.

House Democrats released the emails Wednesday.

In the documents, Epstein suggested Trump knew about his trafficking operation and sat in a room with victims.

The records redacted the name of Virginia Giuffre, a victim who stated in 2011 that Trump did not engage in sexual acts with Epstein’s victims during her time with him.

Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday that House Republicans should release the files because they have “nothing to hide.”

Additional statements from Epstein’s victims were reported by NBC News in September, with several saying they never saw or heard of Trump engaging in illegal activity during his association with Epstein.

Ghislaine Maxwell said in a July 24 deposition that Trump was a “gentleman in all respects” and that she never witnessed inappropriate behavior by him.

Republican Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Lauren Boebert of Colorado signed a petition supporting the release of the files.

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