James Comer claims Ghislaine Maxwell ‘exonerated’ Trump during DOJ interview

WASHINGTON, DC: House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer claimed on Tuesday, September 2, that Ghislaine Maxwell “exonerated” Donald Trump during a Department of Justice interview, igniting sharp criticism from Democrats who accused him of diverting attention from victims and oversight concerns.

The remark came during testimony before the House Rules Committee, the same day Comer’s committee released mostly old files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

James Comer says Democrats upset over Trump’s 'exoneration'

When Rep Teresa Leger Fernandez pressed him on whether Congress should examine Maxwell’s transfer, Comer dismissed the idea and accused Democrats of being angry solely because Maxwell spoke positively of Trump.

“You want to have a whole hearing… not about the victims, not about a government coverup, not about human trafficking, but about Maxwell,” Comer told Fernandez. “Now you’re mad because she exonerated Trump.”

Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence, praised Trump during a July meeting with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump’s former personal attorney. Days later, she was moved from a Florida prison to a lower-security facility in Texas, a decision that drew outrage from victims’ advocates who questioned whether her favorable comments played a role.

James Comer blasted for using Ghislaine Maxwell testimony to claim Trump exoneration

Many on social media criticized Comer for claiming Maxwell "exonerated" Trump, objecting to him giving weight or credibility to her DOJ testimony.

An X user wrote, "Maxwell actually didn’t though, she said that she was never with #Trump in a private setting and therefore didn’t have any knowledge of his misconduct. That isn’t an exoneration at all." Another questioned, "'she exonerated trump'??..."

"It's hilarious that Comer thinks that Maxwell could exonerate anybody! A person who was twice accused of perjury and said that she never saw Trump do anything wrong and also that she never did anything nor did Epstein. Super credible," one posted.

"Jim Comer is dumb as a rock," a user commented.

People also wrote, "She did not exonerate anyone. She said she didn't see anything at all, not even from epstein. So with that logic I'm guessing comer would say she exonerated epstein as well." and "The word of a convicted felon and liar cannot exonerate Trump."

Democrats argue victims are being sidelined

Fernandez pushed back, saying the outrage stemmed from victims disturbed by Maxwell’s improved prison conditions. “The question wasn’t about should we do all these things, but this is something very specific,” she said. “It is indeed a re-traumatization that someone who has done such horrible things is then treated favorably under these conditions.”

According to transcripts, Maxwell went out of her way to commend Trump during her multi-day interview with Blanche. “Trump was always very cordial and very kind to me,” Maxwell said. “I admire his extraordinary achievement in becoming the president now. I like him, and I’ve always liked him.”

Victims’ families condemn Ghislaine Maxwell's transfer to 'posh' prison

Maxwell’s move to a minimum-security Texas facility, with no cell blocks or guard towers, has been denounced as an insult by families of Epstein’s victims. Sky Roberts, brother of Virginia Giuffre, said, “For her to be put up in what I would call it, a posh prison, a minimum security prison, is an insult. President Trump himself stated that people that have… crossed borders should be held to the harshest penalties. And yet we’re seeing the exact opposite right now.”

The White House and Comer’s office have not commented on whether the Oversight Committee will revisit Maxwell’s transfer or release additional documents.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.