Sparks fly as GOP's top investigator breaks with Trump over Epstein files
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) speaks to reporters ahead of a closed door interview with Kathy Ruemmler, former chief legal officer at Goldman Sachs, over her ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on July 15, 2026. REUTERS/Al Drago

Rep. James Comer (R-KY) admitted Thursday that he agrees with Vice President JD Vance's comments that the Trump administration and Department of Justice's rollout of the Epstein files has "been handled poorly," according to reports.

The House Oversight Committee Chairman, who has been leading the congressional investigation into the handling into the late financier and co-conspirators, told NOTUS that he agrees with Vance, who made the admission during an interview on Joe Rogan's podcast Wednesday.

"I agree with [Vance] 100%," Comer said.

Comer's remarks were considered "a notable escalation of criticism by the House Republican and underscores frustration in the party over the White House’s handling of information around the disgraced financier," NOTUS reported.

"I think 99.9% of Americans would agree with what the vice president said," Comer told NOTUS. "It’s been handled poorly, but a lot of the information has never been shared."

In an unusual break from the Trump administration, Vance told Rogan that the Trump administration had "mishandled the Epstein release."

The significant moment highlighted how the Epstein files have been a point of division among conservatives — both in and outside the White House.

Comer explained that the committee was continuing to pursue the additional DOJ unreleased materials.

"They’ve said they’ve turned over every document they can legally turn over," Comer said. "If you have documents you can’t legally turn over, explain to us why."