James Comer says Tova Noel must testify in Epstein probe: 'If she doesn’t, I’ll subpoena her'

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep James Comer has vowed to compel testimony from a former prison guard linked to the death of convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein, as part of an ongoing congressional investigation.

Lawmakers are intensifying efforts to uncover details surrounding the controversial 2019 jailhouse death. The situation has gained renewed attention following newly released documents and revelations, with officials saying the testimony is critical to understanding what happened.

Congress pushes for testimony from Tova Noel

Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, has made it clear that former corrections officer Tova Noel will be required to testify. Noel was on duty at the Metropolitan Correctional Facility in August 2019 when Epstein was found dead.

Comer stated that “If she doesn’t" voluntarily appear before the committee for a scheduled March 26 interview, he is prepared "to subpoena her" to compel testimony. The committee believes Noel may hold key information about the circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death.

Lawmakers have already reached out to her attorney, but her appearance has not yet been confirmed. “We’ve got a lot of questions to ask,” Comer further added.

Recently released documents from the Department of Justice and FBI have added new concerns about Noel’s conduct. Reports indicate she searched Epstein’s name online just minutes before his body was discovered.

Additionally, her bank records showed suspicious cash deposits, including a $5,000 deposit shortly after Epstein’s earlier reported attempt to harm himself. These findings have intensified scrutiny and raised questions about possible misconduct.

Noel, along with another guard, had previously been accused of falsifying prison records related to required checks on Epstein. However, both were not criminally charged in connection with those allegations.

James Comer and Democrats clash over Pam Bondi walkout

As the committee’s Epstein probe continues, Comer called Democrats’ walkout from a closed-door meeting with Attorney General Pam Bondi a “low point.” “The way the Democrats behaved was clearly a premeditated stunt to go out with their fake outrage,” Comer told reporters.

He continued, “They said Pam Bondi wasn’t answering their questions. They didn’t ask any questions. And look, I was embarrassed by the Democrats.” Comer further emphasized that some of his GOP allies on the committee have also “sadly” said and done things “that have been [embarrassing].”

“But I tell you what, you know, you just have to face the fact that we have a lot of dead weight on this committee, and the behavior of the Democrat yesterday was unacceptable,” the Kentucky Republican stated, adding later that he “wasn’t expecting” Democrats to walk out of the meeting.

Comer also accused Democrats of “secretly tape-recording” the meeting based on subsequent reporting, calling it “a violation of the rules.” he also added, “But I don’t care, I stand by what I said, It’s unfortunate that the Democrats –– they displayed a gross lack of seriousness that’s very concerning moving forward.”

Democrats, however, pushed back strongly on Comer’s characterization of events. Rep. Yassamin Ansari explained that she and her colleagues had pressed Bondi on whether she would testify under oath after being subpoenaed in the probe, but the attorney general refused to answer.

She said the situation escalated after Rep. Summer Lee asked Comer whether he would take action if Bondi did not come forward, which ultimately led to Democrats walking out. Rep. Robert Garcia, the committee’s ranking member, called the session a “fake hearing” and a “complete disrespect of the process.”