MAGA lawmaker claims Trump admin halted earlier search of Epstein’s Zorro Ranch | EUROtoday

Rep. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, has claimed that the Department of Justice intervened to dam a state investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s New Mexico ranch in 2019.

The Kentucky Republican appeared on Jesse Watters’ Fox News present Tuesday, a day after a brand new search of the property was commenced, when he made the declare in regards to the failings of the authorities to meet up with Epstein throughout President Donald Trump’s first time period, when then-attorney basic Bill Barr was main the DOJ.

“The federal government asked New Mexico to stop their investigation, I believe, back in 2019 of that ranch,” mentioned the congressman.

“So there’s just so many questions about how the government failed the victims and how government failed in trying to prosecute Epstein sooner. I mean, this whole thing doesn’t make sense.

“Everyone has conspiracy theories on how Epstein was able to get away with it. Was it because he had powerful friends? Was it because he was an agent? We don’t know, but we’re gonna find out and I’m glad that they’re on the ground now in New Mexico searching that property.”

Responding to the revelation, Watters requested: “Congressman, you said in 2019 the government told New Mexico authorities to stand down in investigating the ranch – do you know what branch of the government?”

Comer replied: “It was the Department of Justice, I believe. And I believe it… perhaps was the Southern District of New York because they had taken over the investigation at that point. So, again these are questions that we have. We want to get the answers.”

The Independent has contacted Rep. Comer, the DOJ and the White House for additional remark.

State investigators started their new search of the 26,700 sq. foot hilltop mansion in Santa Fe County that was as soon as owned by Epstein on Monday.

The ranch was acquired in 2023 by Don Huffines, a businessman and self-declared “MAGA Trump Republican” operating to be Texas comptroller, who modified its identify from the Zorro Ranch to the San Rafael Ranch.

State Attorney General Raul Torrez’s workplace mentioned the search was being carried out with the cooperation of the brand new house owners and that it had been commenced after New Mexico prosecutors concluded that “revelations outlined in the previously sealed FBI files warrant further examination.”

The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Tuesday that Sandoval County Fire and Rescue personnel had been serving to to survey the positioning.

Yesterday, California Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia gave an replace on the continued Epstein scandal, saying that the DOJ had nonetheless solely launched “half” of its information pertaining to Epstein – roughly 3.5 million of its 6 million complete, by its personal depend.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has mentioned that’s all his division considers secure to launch with out compromising harmless individuals or interfering with ongoing investigations.

“We strongly believe that this continues to be a massive White House cover-up that goes all the way to the top of government,” Garcia mentioned at his press convention, calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch the information of their entirety.

Bondi has been subpoenaed to look earlier than Comer’s committee to handle the state of affairs amid widespread happiness among the many survivors of Epstein’s abuse about situations of their names going unredacted within the launched information, whereas these of among the billionaire’s rich associates had been saved hid.

Garcia additionally pointed to imminent testimony from Epstein’s private lawyer Darren Indyke and accountant Richard Kahn in addition to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who has denied wrongdoing over his previous affiliation with the disgraced financier, as proof of progress within the case.

Speaking to Lawrence O’Donnell on MS NOW Monday, one other committee Democrat, California Rep. Ro Khanna, pledged the struggle for solutions would proceed.

“It continues because it’s personal, because these survivors have sat in my office, they’ve sat in [Kentucky Republican Rep.] Thomas Massie’s office… They were abused, they were raped, and they want justice,” Khanna mentioned.

“And the half of the files that are out proves to the country that what we were talking about was not a hoax, that some of the most powerful people were involved. And the worst stuff is still in these files, the names of some of these people.”