Rep. James Comer on Leon Black Testimony

[0:00] So, of all the witnesses that have come thus far, this one has the potential to [0:05] be the most groundbreaking deposition in my opinion. [0:10] There's a lot of concerning things in the documents. [0:15] There are a lot of statements from the survivors that are very concerning as [0:20] well with respect to Mr. Black. [0:23] Obviously, he's gonna have an opportunity to defend himself and for [0:28] due process, but this could be a pretty significant deposition as we try to get [0:34] answers. [0:35] And again, before I answer questions, I'll remind everyone the purpose of our [0:38] investigation is to get the truth to the American people and determine how the [0:43] government failed the survivors by not prosecuting Epstein sooner. [0:49] So, with that, I'll be happy to answer any questions. [0:51] Yes. [0:59] Well, he's here. [1:00] We appreciate that. [1:03] We just read his opening statement. [1:05] There are a couple of things in the opening statement that concern me, but [1:08] we'll, well, just some, you know, we, we set the rules for the deposition, so [1:13] we'll see how it goes and hopefully we'll get our questions answered and [1:17] we'll go from there. [1:19] You just scheduled, I think Alan Dershowitz interview, I can do three, [1:22] four more at least after this. [1:25] What's the goal here? [1:26] How long do you expect this investigation to go on? [1:28] I know, I know what you just said that, you know, you want to get the truth to [1:31] the American people, but will there be a report? [1:34] Is there a deadline for your committee to release something? [1:36] Well, we're on a timeline. [1:38] Every Congress expires. [1:40] This Congress will expire at the end of this year, so we want to certainly get done as quickly [1:45] as possible. [1:47] As we do more depositions and meet with more survivors, more people of interest pop up, [1:53] so we don't want to leave anyone of importance out. [1:57] But let me make sure everyone knows on June 30th, we have Doug Band. [2:02] On July 15th, Kathy Rumler, who is, you know, communicating with Epstein all the way until [2:08] the end. [2:09] July 20th, Alan Dershowitz, and July 23rd, Jess Staley. [2:15] So that will be 20 interviews, and if we need to interview more, we'll do it. [2:21] You know, we're not on any short-term timeline, but certainly we want to try to get it finished [2:29] as quickly as possible. [2:30] Who? [2:34] Who? [2:35] We hope Todd Blanche will come before the committee very soon. [2:40] Yeah. [2:41] Well, I know that he's got, I would love for him to come in July, but we know that he's [2:46] got his confirmation, and I'm sure that's where his focus is right now on his confirmation. [2:52] I thought the confirmation was going to be in July, and I was informed it's going to [2:55] be in August, so we'll get him in as quickly as possible, but I do hope to have Todd Blanche [3:01] in here to answer questions. [3:02] And again, I have to remind everyone, he's already been here once and answered questions. [3:08] The Democrats had an opportunity to ask him questions, but they stormed out and made a [3:12] stunt in front of you guys. [3:14] So I appreciate Acting Attorney General Blanche coming in that day, and I'm asking him to [3:21] come in again. [3:22] Chad. [3:23] I think Democrats had a very bad week, I believe that when you're Hakeem Jeffries and you're [3:53] trying to be the next Speaker of the House and you lose three elections in your hometown, [3:59] that's a pretty big slap in the face. [4:00] And I always come from Kentucky and I always adhere to the attitude that you look at a candidate [4:08] by how well they do in their hometown, by their friends and neighbors, and I think Hakeem [4:14] Jeffries' friends and neighbors gave him a big middle finger, and look, that's the direction [4:19] of the Democrat Party. [4:20] They are going further and further to the left to the point to where they are full-blown, [4:25] card-carrying, socialist, and I don't think the American people want to elect that. [4:30] And I'm more confident than ever that the House will remain Republican. [4:34] And it seems that a lot of progressive new members tend to serve on this committee. [4:39] Are you bracing, regardless of whether you're in the majority or minority, what that's going [4:43] to be like if some of those folks show up on your committee and these hearings fire up? [4:47] What are you saying, Chad? [4:48] We have some rowdy members on our committee? [4:50] History is our guide. [4:52] Well, I don't doubt that, but, you know, this is the committee that most people want. [5:00] This is a true story, and I've said this a lot. [5:02] When I was a freshman in 2017 session, that was my first, I came in in December 2016 in [5:10] a special election, but I didn't get it put on committees until 2017. [5:13] I was in the class with Mike Johnson and Matt Gaetz and Lynn Chaney and all of that group. [5:18] So, we had the orientation, and I think there were 27 Republicans, and you have the chairman's [5:27] reception where you go and you make the pitch to the committee chairman of which committee [5:32] you want to be on, 27 people, and this included Matt Gaetz, you know, this included Mike Johnson [5:37] and a lot of good members, Brian Mass, Jody, you know, Jody was in there. [5:45] And I was the only one that went to Jason Chaffetz, who was chairman of the oversight committee. [5:52] I was the only freshman that asked to be on the oversight committee, and I was the only [5:57] freshman that got put on the oversight committee. [5:59] Well, when I was chairman the first time, two-thirds of the freshman class went straight [6:06] when they said, okay, you can get up and start working the room for committee chair. [6:09] Two-thirds of the class went to me wanting to be on the oversight committee, and that's the [6:14] way it's been since. [6:15] And so, I take that as a compliment that the majority of the freshmen want to be on the [6:18] oversight committee. [6:19] I think we're getting it done. [6:21] I think that a lot of people, especially in these Republican districts, want to see people [6:25] held accountable. [6:26] And, you know, our biggest focus right now is waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in [6:30] the federal government, especially for Medicare and Medicaid. [6:33] So, hopefully we'll get some good members. [6:38] Well, you know, it's a tough committee to manage. [6:44] It's getting tougher, but I think we'll be all right. [6:48] You said Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing isn't happening until August. [6:52] Did you hear that from Mr. Blanche? [6:55] The confirmation? [6:57] No, some of the reporters said that yesterday. [7:00] So, I was thinking it was in July, but some reporters approached me saying it was going [7:06] to be later. [7:06] So, if it's July, then yes, we certainly hope he comes in after the confirmation. [7:12] Do you have to have him in until after the confirmation hearing? [7:15] It's probably best that he comes in after the confirmation hearing. [7:18] Would you be willing to send him if he refuses to come in? [7:21] I think he'll come in. [7:22] Mr. Chairman, are you expecting to hear some sort of an apology or so from Mr. Blanche? [7:28] I haven't thought about that. [7:31] We have so many questions. [7:32] I mean, we have hundreds and hundreds of questions about financial transactions, about bank violations, [7:39] about emails, documents, pictures, and communication with survivors. [7:46] So, that's pretty much all I've thought about. [7:49] And my staff have worked very hard on this, and they're very prepared to go. [7:53] So, I'll do one more, and then we'll come out and update you. [7:56] I'm sorry. [8:04] Say it one more time. [8:05] Most striking or conserving things you saw. [8:07] With this deposition? [8:08] Can I say about the non-disclosure? [8:13] I mean, he signed, we're pretty confident, a lot of non-disclosure agreements with some of the victims. [8:20] So, we're going to have some questions about that. [8:23] All right. [8:23] Thank you. [8:24] Thank you.