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By Gabe Whisnant
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U.S. Rep. James Comer, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said Friday that he supports first lady Melania Trump’s call for congressional hearings allowing victims of Jeffrey Epstein to testify in public, saying the panel will move forward with hearings once depositions are completed.
“I agree with the first lady and appreciate what she said. We will have hearings,” Comer said during an interview on Fox News’ America Reports.
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Melania Trump, the wife of President Donald Trump, said Thursday that public hearings were necessary to allow Epstein’s victims to tell their stories under oath. Her remarks renewed public attention on an issue the president has sought to move past following recent disclosures tied to Epstein.
Epstein, a wealthy financier with powerful connections, has dominated political discussion in recent months after the U.S. Justice Department released millions of pages of records tied to earlier investigations. Epstein was facing federal charges for sex trafficking of minors when he died in jail in 2019 in what authorities ruled a suicide.
More than 1,200 Epstein victims have been identified in documents released by the Justice Department since late 2025, according to officials.
In her rare public remarks Thursday, Melania Trump denied having any connection to Epstein and said she was not one of his victims. Her comments thrust the issue back into the spotlight after the president had sought to put it behind him.
Comer said attorneys for the House Oversight Committee have remained in regular contact with Epstein’s victims as part of the committee’s investigation. He said some victims are willing to testify publicly, while others have declined.
“We have always planned on having a hearing with Epstein victims once the depositions have been completed,” Comer said, adding that additional high-profile witnesses are still scheduled to appear before the committee.
Melania Trump's Statement Puts Epstein Investigation Back in Spotlight
Melania Trump's remarks came as President Trump and his administration had appeared to move beyond more than a year of controversy surrounding Epstein, particularly as the war with Iran came to dominate Washington.
The first lady’s comments are likely to thrust the issue back into the political spotlight, even as the president has urged the public and news media to move on from the case.
Trump told The New York Times on Friday that he knew his wife wanted to address the late sex offender at some point and said he believed she had a right to do so, even though he was unaware of exactly what she planned to say.
"I said, 'If you want to do that, you can do that," he told the newspaper, adding that he did not recommend she speak out.
What is the Status of the Release of the Epstein Files?
The first lady’s remarks revived attention on Epstein months after federal authorities released millions of pages of documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law enacted following sustained public and political pressure. The measure requires the government to disclose records related to the late financier and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Lawmakers initially criticized the Justice Department for issuing only a limited release. The department said additional time was needed to review newly discovered materials and to ensure that sensitive information about victims was not made public.
The House Oversight Committee said Wednesday that Pam Bondi will not appear for her April 14 deposition, with a spokesperson saying that the Justice Department’s position was that Bondi was subpoenaed only in her capacity as attorney general—a role she no longer holds.
Bondi was scheduled to testify to the committee over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, following a bipartisan vote to call her to the Hill. President Trump then removed Bondi as Attorney General on Friday, handing the role, temporarily, to her deputy, Todd Blanche.
Who Faced Consequences After Epstein Files Were Released?
Several prominent figures in Europe have faced legal consequences linked to their associations with Epstein, though no comparable prosecutions have occurred in the United States.
Most notably, Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor — Britain’s former Prince Andrew — was arrested in February following the most recent release of documents. His name appeared repeatedly in the filings, which described a close relationship with Epstein.
Authorities said the arrest was unrelated to allegations of sexual misconduct. Instead, Mountbatten‑Windsor was taken into custody on accusations that he shared confidential trade information with Epstein.
Melania Trump called on Congress to hold public hearings centered on survivors of Epstein’s crimes, allowing victims to testify before lawmakers and formally enter their accounts into the congressional record.
“Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes,” she said. “Then, and only then, we will have the truth.”
Updates: 4/10/26, 7:20 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this article.
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