Washington, DC – House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries declined to directly answer a question in November about an allegation raised by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer that Jeffries had accepted money from Jeffrey Epstein and hosted him for dinner in 2013, responding instead with sharp criticism of Republicans and the claim itself.
The exchange occurred after a reporter asked Jeffries about Comer’s assertion that the New York Democrat had financial or personal contact with Epstein years after Epstein’s conviction as a sex offender. Jeffries did not confirm or deny the allegation, instead questioning the seriousness of the claim and referring to Comer as a “malignant clown.”
Jeffries also said Republicans had “been burying the Epstein files,” arguing that Democrats were not responsible for concealing records related to Epstein. No evidence was presented publicly at the time by Comer to substantiate the claim involving Jeffries, and Jeffries’ office has not released additional details addressing the allegation directly.
The comments resurfaced amid renewed attention on political figures’ past interactions with Epstein, following reporting that Delegate Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands had exchanged text messages with Epstein years ago, a matter that has also drawn questions but has not resulted in criminal allegations.
Epstein, a wealthy financier with ties to prominent political, business, and academic figures, died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His associations have continued to prompt scrutiny across party lines as lawmakers debate access to investigative files and records.
Neither the House Oversight Committee nor Jeffries’ office has announced any formal inquiry or findings related to the allegation raised in November, and no documentation has been made public confirming that Jeffries accepted money from or hosted Epstein.