In a notable on-air blunder, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, the third-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives, badly mispronounced the name of convicted Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell during a significant television interview. The 64-year-old congressman from Minnesota made the error while discussing the arrests of Epstein and Maxwell, which he attributed to officials from Donald Trump's first administration.
A Cringeworthy Moment on Live Television
During his conversation with anchor Vladimir Duthiers, Emmer attempted to reference Maxwell but stumbled over her name, saying: "His administration was the one that arrested Jeffrey Epstein and Giz- Gizlin." The mangled pronunciation sounded more like the word "sizzling" than the disgraced British socialite's actual first name. Emmer then appeared to struggle to recall her surname before abandoning the attempt entirely, opting instead to refer to her simply as Epstein's "accomplice."
Anchor Steps In with Correction
Duthiers promptly intervened to correct the politician, informing him that the proper pronunciation is "Ghislaine." Emmer acknowledged his mistake with a touch of humor, quipping: "That's a Midwestern faux pas." This lighthearted remark seemed designed to diffuse the awkwardness while nodding to the reputation of Midwestern residents for being polite and well-mannered.
Interview Continues with Substantive Discussions
Following the correction, the interview proceeded without further interruption, shifting focus to the Department of Justice's recent release of documents related to the Epstein case. When pressed by Duthiers about the contents of these files, Emmer expressed confidence that any potential crimes described within them had either been thoroughly investigated or brought to the attention of federal authorities.
He noted that several prominent figures, including former President Trump himself, have faced scrutiny due to unproven claims contained in the documents. The conversation then turned to electoral politics, with Emmer firmly rejecting Trump's recent calls for the Republican Party to "nationalize" voting procedures across the United States.
Emmer Defends State Control of Elections
"The president will [say] his words," Emmer stated. "I will tell you where I'm at: The federal elections are administered by our states." He elaborated that election officials in his home state of Minnesota would willingly provide information to the federal government if requested, adding: "If you have nothing to hide, you would send those to the federal government."
Emmer specifically criticized officials in Georgia for failing to cooperate prior to an FBI raid on an elections hub near Atlanta last month, where federal agents seized ballots. "We want to make sure that the integrity of the federal elections are protected," he asserted, defending such enforcement actions.
Optimism About Political Unity
Toward the conclusion of the interview, Duthiers posed a pointed question about whether Democrats and Republicans could ever find common ground given the current polarized political climate, even in Emmer's own state. The congressman responded with optimism, declaring: "Vlad, this country will always come out of things and be even stronger than it was before. We have gone through things throughout our history. We are going to be fine at the end of the day."
Despite the early stumble over Maxwell's name, the exchange covered substantial ground on both the Epstein case and electoral integrity, showcasing Emmer's policy positions while providing an unforgettable moment of linguistic confusion that quickly drew attention across media platforms.
