House Oversight Republicans skipped the deposition of billionaire Les Wexner this week, even as Democrats made the trip to Ohio to question one of Jeffrey Epstein’s closest associates. The Wednesday session was held by committee staff, with several Democratic members in attendance, including Ranking Member Robert Garcia. Not a single Republican lawmaker showed up. Awkward optics, sure—but there’s more to the story.
Depositions are formal legal proceedings run by staff under committee rules, with majority and minority sides alternating hour-long questioning periods. In other words, this wasn’t some made-for-TV showdown. It was staff work. Still, Democrats traveled, Republicans didn’t—and the Daily Caller wanted to know why.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer wasn’t there because he was undergoing major, pre-scheduled oral surgery. Meanwhile, the U.S. House was officially in recess for the week of February 17, meaning most lawmakers were back in their districts meeting with constituents and attending local events. Apparently, some people still think voters matter more than photo ops.
An anonymous GOP member told the Daily Caller they didn’t understand why depositions for figures like Wexner, former President Bill Clinton, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are being held outside Washington, D.C.
“If the average citizen were called in, they would be called into Washington, D.C.,” the lawmaker said, questioning why these high-profile witnesses get special travel arrangements. Funny how the rules bend when the names are famous.
According to NBC News, Clinton is scheduled for a deposition on February 27, with Hillary Clinton appearing separately on February 26 in New York. So yes, the Epstein circle is still being questioned—just not always where you’d expect.
Comer made clear on Sean Hannity’s show that he is no longer interested in pursuing Wexner specifically, saying the committee will focus instead on individuals who have never been questioned before. Translation: the investigation isn’t over, it’s just moving to fresh targets instead of retreading old ground.
The Daily Caller also reached out to Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina and the Department of Justice to ask whether Wexner has ever been investigated or interviewed. Neither responded before publication.
So while Democrats staged a visible appearance in Ohio, Republicans were either recovering from surgery, working in their districts, or refocusing the probe on new witnesses. The takeaway? The investigation into Epstein’s network isn’t being dropped—it’s being redirected. And with more depositions scheduled, the truth is still inching closer to daylight.
