Roy Moore’s Lawyer Tries to Defend Cultural Differences in Age of Consent to ‘Diverse’ MSNBC Host, Who’s From Canada

‘Wow. That’s Awesome, That You Have Got Such a Diverse Background’

Roy Moore‘s attorney appeared on MSNBC’s “Velshi & Ruhle” Wednesday morning to defend his client from allegations of child sexual assault, but ended up insulting one of the hosts while attempting to use cultural norms surrounding age of consent as a means to defend “Judge” Moore.

Attorney Trenton Garmon, who’s already insulted a top host at CNN, told co-hosts Ali Velshi and Stephanie Ruhle that Moore last week said he did not remember dating girls without their mother’s permission.

Ruhle asked the question that’s been on everyone’s mind since Moore spoke with Sean Hannity last Friday.

“Why would he need permission from any of these girls’ mothers if they weren’t underage?” Ruhle demanded to know.

“That’s a good question. Culturally speaking, I would say there’s differences. I looked up Ali’s background there,” Garmon admitted, not explaining why he would need to do so. “Wow. That’s awesome, that you have got such a diverse background. It was cool to read through that.”

Ruhle went on the attack, defending her co-host.

“What does Ali’s background have to do with dating a 14-year-old?” she asked.

Velshi is Canadian. He was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and raised in Toronto, Canada.

“I’m not finished with the context of it,” Garmon replied.

“Well, please answer. What does Ali Velshi’s background have to do with dating children, 14-year-old girls?” Ruhle continued, pointedly.

“In other countries there’s arrangement through parents for what we would refer to as consensual marriage,” Garmon began, before Ruhle interjected.

“Ali’s from Canada,” she reminded him. “Ali’s from Canada.”

“I understand that. And Ali’s also spent time in other countries.”

“So have I,” Ruhle said, as many Americans would have also.

“It’s not a bad thing,” Garmon said, as if he were in a position to pronounce judgment either way.

“I don’t know where you’re going with this, Trenton,” Velshi, joining the back-and-forth, added.

Garmon actually went on to say that Roy Moore’s “process… whether they’re 25, 35… he would ask the mother’s permission.”

He insisted there was no inconsistency in Moore’s answer.

Others, including Sean Hannity, disagree.

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