Sacha Baron Cohen didn’t accuse Roy Moore of being a pedophile on “Who Is America?” Sunday night — but a fake pedophile detector kinda did.
In the third episode of the comedian’s new Showtime series, Cohen interviews the former Alabama judge who was infamously accused of sexual misconduct by three women during his campaign for the U.S. Senate last fall. During the episode, Cohen poses as Col. Erran Morad, an Israeli anti-terrorism expert, who shows off some new tech gear they have recently “developed.”
“They have now used this technology to identify other abnormalities,” Cohen told Moore, while in character. “It turns out that sex offenders — and particularly pedophiles — secrete an enzyme for DDHT, which is actually detectable. It is three times the level of non-pedophiles, so the phrase ‘sweating like a rapist’ is actually based on science.”
“So, in Israel, they have developed a machine that is used in schools and playgrounds to detect anyone coming in,” he continued. “And if they detect a pedophile, the wand alerts the law enforcement and the schools within a hundred mile radius.”
Cohen then picks up the “very simple to use” pretend device and begins to wave it over them both. “And because neither of us are sex offenders, then it make absolutely nothing. You just put it on, you put it nearby –,” Cohen says, stopping abruptly when the fake instrument beeps while he’s scanning Moore.
“Wait, this, there’s obviously a problem,” Cohen says. “Hold on. Hold on. It must be faulty. It’s malfunctioning. I’m sure it will do the same with the other guy here,” he says, calling over a member of the crew, who does not set off the detector.
Wait, Cohen knows, Moore must have lent his jacket to someone else. Oh, he didn’t?
“I’ve been married for 33 [years] and never had an accusation of such things,” Moore said, getting visibly annoyed with the interview.
“I’m not accusing you at all -,” Cohen says. “Well, then if this is an instrument I – certainly, I’m not a pedophile, OK?” Moore said.
“No, but the machine works.” “Well, I don’t know… Then maybe Israeli technology hasn’t developed properly.” “This is 99.8 percent accurate…” Cohen insists. “It is not saying that you are a pedophile, of course not.
“I am simply cutting this conversation right now… I support Israel, I don’t support this kind of stuff,” Moore said, before getting up to leave mid-interview.
Showtime did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for clarification on when the segment was filmed (before or after the public accusations were made against Moore) and attempts to reach Moore for comment were not immediately successful.
Watch above.