Comer: If There Had Been Any Epstein Dirt on Trump, It Would Have Leaked

House Oversight Committee chairman says any incriminating information on Trump would have surfaced long ago.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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In an interview on Fox News, House Oversight Committee chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) downplayed any alleged ties between former President Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Comer argued that if there had been any 'dirt' on Trump related to Epstein, it would have leaked out long ago due to Trump's many enemies in the Department of Justice and the 'deep state'.

Why it matters

The relationship between Trump and Epstein has been a source of controversy, with allegations that Trump was involved in Epstein's criminal activities. Comer's comments are part of a broader effort by Republicans to shift the focus away from Trump's potential involvement and instead scrutinize others who continued to associate with Epstein after his initial conviction.

The details

Comer pointed to the fact that Trump had publicly kicked Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, as evidence that Trump had distanced himself from the disgraced financier. He also said that if Epstein had any 'incriminating' information on Trump, it would have been leaked by Trump's many enemies in the Justice Department and the 'deep state'.

  • The interview took place on February 20, 2026, on the Fox News program 'Hannity'.

The players

James Comer

A Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky and the chairman of the House Oversight Committee.

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States, who has been accused of having ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein

A convicted sex offender and financier who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

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What they’re saying

“If the guy had anything incriminating on Donald Trump, I'm sure we would have heard about it a long, long time ago, right?”

— James Comer, House Oversight Committee chairman (Hannity)

“If there had been any dirt on Donald Trump, that would have leaked out because Donald Trump has that many enemies in the Department of Justice, in the deep state apparatuses that were supposed to be investigating Epstein.”

— James Comer, House Oversight Committee chairman (Hannity)

What’s next

Comer indicated that the House Oversight Committee will continue to investigate Epstein's associates and how he was able to 'surround himself with so many rich, famous and powerful people'.

The takeaway

Comer's comments reflect the ongoing political battle over Trump's ties to Epstein, with Republicans seeking to downplay any potential wrongdoing by the former president while Democrats continue to push for further investigation and accountability.