House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) spoke before the House Rules Committee to advocate for House Resolution 668, which directs the committee to continue investigating possible mismanagement in the federal government’s handling of cases involving Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Comer began by acknowledging survivors who shared their experiences with the committee. “Today, the Oversight Committee met with survivors of the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell,” he said. “Their stories are heartbreaking.”
He emphasized that these individuals suffered not only from criminal acts but also from failures by government authorities. “They were not only victims of crimes but were betrayed by their own government,” Comer stated.
Comer outlined a timeline in which tips provided to law enforcement were ignored since 1996, followed by lenient treatment for Epstein. “Since 1996 the FBI ignored tips. Then, US attorneys gave Epstein a sweetheart deal to avoid significant jail time,” he said.
The committee has intensified its investigation over recent weeks, according to Comer. “For the past six weeks, the Oversight Committee has worked tirelessly to request documents and testimony regarding Epstein and Maxwell.” The committee has issued subpoenas for depositions from Ghislaine Maxwell, requested documents from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Epstein estate, and arranged an interview with former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta.
“This is the most thorough investigation into Epstein and Maxwell to date,” Comer said. He added that progress includes deposing former Attorney General Bill Barr and receiving nearly 34,000 pages of documents from DOJ. The Epstein estate is expected to begin providing materials on September 8.
Comer noted survivor support for these investigative efforts: “What we heard today is that these survivors support these efforts and support transparency and accountability.”
He concluded his remarks by urging adoption of House Resolution 668: “With your support, and the support of the House, we can continue to do the work to provide closure and justice to the hundreds of victims.”
James Comer represents Kentucky’s 1st congressional district in Congress after succeeding Ed Whitfield in 2016; he previously served in Kentucky’s state legislature between 2001-2012. Born in Carthage, Tennessee in 1972, Comer lives in Tompkinsville and graduated from Western Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree.
