In a heated two-part interview on The Last Word, Joe Oliver defended George Zimmerman, the man who killed Trayvon Martin and discussed his involvement in the case.
MSNBC's Lawrence O’Donnell, Charles Blow, a New York Times columnist, and Jonathan Capehart, a Washington Post columnist, each took turns quizzing Oliver about his six-year friendship with his co-worker, Zimmerman.
Oliver "wanted to clarify" the characterization of him as a "close friend," as many news outlets have been suggesting. He said considered himself more of an "older uncle" figure.
Oliver also told the Last Word panel he knows in "his heart" that Zimmerman was in a life or death situation before he pulled the trigger. He said it comes down to a "gut feeling." Though, he admitted Zimmerman never shared details about past brushes with violence and the law.
No one else on set was buying it. "You don’t really know George Zimmerman if you don’t know those things about George Zimmerman," Blow charged, throwing cold water on the depth of their interactions.
While he continued to stand by Zimmerman's character, perhaps, Oliver said it best himself, "My role in this just doesn't make sense."
It was a tense talk. But at least Oliver showed up, unlike Craig Sonner, who ditched out on our interview moments before air.
Check out both part one and part two of the interview now.
