Comer Says Maxwell Took Fifth; More Epstein Depositions Set (Full Transcript)

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: The Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, James Comer, has emerged from that hearing and informed all of us that Ghislaine Maxwell has decided to take the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer any questions. Listen to what he's saying.

[00:00:18] Speaker 2: As expected, Ghislaine Maxwell took the Fifth and refused to answer any questions. This is obviously very disappointing. We had many questions to ask about the crimes she and Epstein committed, as well as questions about potential co-conspirators. We sincerely want to get to the truth of the American people and justice for the survivors. That's what this investigation is about. I want to mention the next steps. We can confirm we have five more depositions in the book scheduled for the Epstein investigation. On February 18, Lex Wexner, who is a financial client of Epstein and, I believe, the former CEO of Victoria's Secret. February 26, we have former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. February 27, former President Bill Clinton. March 11, Richard Kahn, Epstein's accountant. And March 19, Darren Endik, Epstein's lawyer. So we will continue to move forward and try to get answers for the American people. We would love to hear from anyone. Obviously, I can't subpoena in foreign countries. I would have done that in the Biden investigation. Do you have anything to add, Andy?

[00:01:46] Speaker 3: I'll just add one thing, that the attorney for Ms. Maxwell said that she has no indication and would say that neither President Trump or Clinton are culpable for any wrongdoing. And that's one thing they said in his opening statement to us today.

[00:02:08] Speaker 4: But was Ghislaine Maxwell put under pressure to stay silent?

[00:02:18] Speaker 2: Well, I have no idea. Is that your suspicion? How would I? I have no idea. I mean, she was given an opportunity. We would have brought her in months ago, but she's indicated she was going to plead the fifth. And unfortunately, she had an opportunity today to answer questions that every American has, questions that would be very important in this investigation. And she chose to invoke her Fifth Amendment rights.

[00:02:41] Speaker 5: Can you clarify what her lawyer said about President Trump and Clinton? And do you think that there's anything more to do with Ghislaine Maxwell now that she's on the fifth?

[00:02:50] Speaker 2: Correct me if I'm wrong. Just to be clear, what her attorney said, Maxwell didn't say, her attorney said that she would answer questions if she were granted clemency by the President.

[00:03:05] Speaker 3: And that she went on to say about Clinton and... Yeah, but he went on to expand that. The other thing is, he pointed out a number of times that she has a habeas corpus petition pending for a new trial and release. And that's why she is not going to answer questions.

[00:03:27] Speaker 5: I know that those conversations are ongoing. They would like them to be public. Is your understanding still that we're looking at those same February dates and they're going to be private?

[00:03:35] Speaker 2: Yeah, that's what they agreed to. And they will be public, just like this will be public, hopefully, very soon. We've released every transcript and every video and audio of every deposition we've done since I've been chairman of the committee.

[00:03:50] Speaker 6: Mr. Chairman, does the committee have any plans to subpoena Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick during the revelations?

[00:03:55] Speaker 2: We're going to try to get these five nailed down. We've got a lot of very important people we're trying to bring in to answer questions. We don't want to do anything to jeopardize the five that we have on the book. So we'll see what happens here and we'll move forward. We're interested in talking to anyone that might have any information that would help us get justice for the survivors. Yes. Mr.

[00:04:20] Speaker 7: Chairman, thank you. On the disagreement with the Clintons about closed-door videotape testimony versus public hearing, are you concerned this will be enough to restart contempt proceedings, or do you think you'll come to a resolution?

[00:04:31] Speaker 2: I mean, they said they agreed to a standard deposition. That's what a standard deposition is. Every time I've come out here for a press gaggle with you all, we've had a standard deposition. So this is how depositions work, and it will be made public. So they want a public deposition. This is what they're going to get. Mr. Chairman, can I ask you about Dilan Omar for a moment? Can I ask you a question about Dilan Omar? Chad, Chad.

[00:04:56] Speaker 6: Your investigation about Dilan Omar, why are you targeting her when there is a problem? Dilan Omar, your committee investigation with Dilan Omar, when there is a process in the House and people have questions about their conduct, this would go through the Ethics Committee. Why is this under the jurisdiction?

[00:05:11] Speaker 2: And I've spoken — I'm glad you asked that question. I've spoken with the Ethics Committee. The Ethics Committee has jurisdiction over members of Congress. The two businesses in question are owned by Ms. Omar's husband. So the Ethics Committee does not have jurisdiction over a spouse, only a member. So that's why we just asked — we have questions.

[00:05:35] Speaker 6: I don't think anyone would — But it would pertain to her overall finances, because they — That is listed on her financial disclosure report, even though that's her spouse.

[00:05:42] Speaker 2: Well, I've already — we've run this by the Ethics Committee, and we think this is the appropriate route. So — and we'll do one more question. Yes. One question on my side.

[00:05:49] Speaker 8: Just going back to the Clinton deposition. Sorry for the space. I understand that you're going to release the transcripts. You'll release the video. Of course. Why is there reticence to just have it be public, since the Clintons — look, they are not your typical people being deposed?

[00:06:05] Speaker 2: When you say public, what do you mean? I mean, it's going to be the video, and we'll release it. The public will see every second of the — of the deposition. That's — I think they're trying to muddy the — what's that?

[00:06:17] Speaker 8: But not at the time that it happens.

[00:06:19] Speaker 2: Well — what, a few seconds later? I mean, it's — I think the Clintons are trying to muddy the waters and create a false narrative about depositions behind closed doors. That deposition was behind closed doors, but you had at least 10 members of Congress in there, and you'll have the video, I hope, very soon.

[00:06:40] Speaker 9: Can I ask you one more question? Yes. Go ahead. All right. Fiona Maxwell, we know from the Epstein files, didn't tell the truth. She got moved to an open prison. Now she's asking for clemency to speak at all. Was it a mistake to move her to that prison? Should she be moved back?

[00:06:56] Speaker 2: I don't know the rationale for moving her from one prison to the other, but, look, initially she had asked that the Oversight Committee grant immunity. And when we met with the survivors of Epstein, it was pretty clear, according to the survivors — and, you know, we had 20-some members in that meeting — that Maxwell was a very bad person, and she committed a lot of crimes. And it was the intent, in my opinion, when we left that meeting in a bipartisan manner, that we would not grant immunity. Now, what she said today, she's asked for clemency from the president. So I personally, for the reasons you just stated, don't think she should be granted any type of immunity or clemency. But we'll obviously — you know, as more documents are read and understood, then we'll go from there. But I'll close with this. I think it's great that the Department of Justice is letting members of Congress come in and look at all the unredacted versions of the documents. Attorney General Bondi is doing what she was supposed to do via our subpoena first on the House Oversight Committee, as well as the Epstein Transparency Act. So I think we're finally going to get some answers. And hopefully, at the end of the day, we can do what our objective is in this hearing, provide justice for the survivors.

[00:08:28] Speaker 7: So thank you very much. Q All right.

[00:08:32] Speaker 1: So there you have the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, James Comer, explaining what's going on right now, Ghislaine Maxwell, pleading the Fifth, refusing to answer questions before his committee.

[00:08:42] Speaker 10: A That's right. And he also — there was also mention of what the attorney for Ghislaine Maxwell said at the very beginning, saying that neither Presidents Trump or Clinton are culpable for any wrongdoing. So that's from Ghislaine's attorney, but Ghislaine herself pleading the Fifth. And he was asked about the fact that Ghislaine Maxwell was moved by this administration to a minimum security prison. And, of course, she's asking for clemency from President Trump to speak to the committee. And you heard there the chairman Comer say, I do understand the rationale for moving her. But, of course, he didn't weigh in on whether that was the right move or not. So that is — what we just heard there was important. And we're also expecting more testimony depositions, five witnesses or people who will be going before the committee, including the Clintons, in the coming weeks.

[00:09:34] Speaker 1: So — Q Hillary Clinton first, then Bill Clinton.

[00:09:36] Speaker 10: A Yeah, that's right.

[00:09:37] Speaker 1: They'll both be coming before the House Oversight Committee. And the chairman making this point, he said, we have many questions for these individuals who have been subpoenaed to come forward. And our goal is justice for the survivors. That was his point. He kept making that point.

[00:09:52] Speaker 10: And the survivors, though, still feel like justice has not been served, as members of Congress are now going over to DOJ to look at those unredacted files that were released publicly. So we hope to learn more about that.