House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer announced Friday that the panel will hold public hearings with victims of Jeffrey Epstein.

Comer made the pledge one day after First Lady Melania Trump urged Congress in a public statement to give Epstein's survivors a platform to testify. "I agree with the first lady and appreciate what she said. We will have hearings," Comer told reporters. He said the committee has always planned such sessions after completing depositions from high-profile individuals connected to Epstein.

Trump's statement on April 9 denied any personal ties to Epstein beyond occasional social overlap in New York and Palm Beach circles. She rejected rumors and false images linking her to the financier and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. "I call on Congress to provide the women who have been victimized by Epstein with a public hearing specifically centered around the survivors," she said. "Give these victims their opportunity to testify under oath in front of Congress."

The first lady emphasized that testimony should enter the Congressional Record permanently. President Trump supported her remarks, telling The New York Times he believed she had a right to address the issue.

Comer noted that committee attorneys have maintained regular contact with Epstein victims. Some expressed willingness to testify publicly, while others have declined. No specific date for the hearings has been set, as the panel wraps up depositions.

The announcement follows years of scrutiny over Epstein's sex-trafficking network. The disgraced financier died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial. The Justice Department has released millions of related files since late 2025, identifying more than 1,200 alleged victims.

House Oversight has conducted depositions and reviewed records as part of its probe into Epstein's associates and government handling of the case. Democrats on the committee had planned a field hearing in Palm Beach, Florida, on April 14 but postponed it to mid-May over logistical issues.

Ranking Member Robert Garcia previously announced a shadow hearing there to examine the investigation. Some victims have voiced mixed reactions to public testimony calls, citing privacy concerns amid recent file releases.

The committee's work builds on bipartisan pushes for transparency, including the 2025 Epstein Files Transparency Act signed by President Trump. Lawmakers from both parties have met privately with survivors in recent months.