Jeffrey Epstein victims will get House committee hearing, James Comer says

Victims of Jeffrey Epstein will get the chance to speak about the late sex offender's crimes at hearings of the House committee investigating him and his procurer, Ghislaine Maxwell, the panel's chairman said Friday.Rep. James Comer's promise to hold those hearings came a day after first lady Melania Trump urged Congress to give "women who have been victimized by Epstein ... a public hearing specifically centered around the survivors.""I agree with the first lady and appreciate what she said," Comer, R-Ky., said in a Fox News interview. "We will have hearings."Comer said that hearings featuring victims of Epstein would be held after the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee finishes taking testimony from several high-profile people who had been connected to Epstein and his former associates.The panel has scheduled interviews with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, billionaire Ted Waitt, federal jail guard Tova Noel, and others.The committee was scheduled to depose former Attorney General Pam Bondi on April 14, but that session was canceled this week after the Department of Justice said she was subpoenaed as attorney general. Democrats on the committee have threatened to initiate contempt charges against Bondi if she fails to show up for the scheduled hearing."I've always planned on having hearings with the victims," Comer told Fox News on Friday."My attorneys on the Oversight Committee have been communicating on a constant basis for months with the attorneys representing Epstein victims, he said. "There are some victims who are willing to come in. Most victims aren't, and I completely understand that. But we have always planned on having a hearing with Epstein victims once the depositions have been completed."Late-night talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel, during his opening monologue on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on Thursday night, echoed many people's surprise that Melania Trump gave a statement about Epstein, blasting the "lies" she said were being told about her, without there being any obvious media report or event that could have motivated her to do so."The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," the first lady had said at the White House. Kimmel cracked, "How about tomorrow? Because I'm just hearing about these lies today."Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you.Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inboxGet this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services.© 2026 Versant Media, LLC.

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