‘Completely ridiculous’: GOP’s ‘shameful’ Jeffrey Epstein stunt torn to shreds on CNN

One Democratic lawmaker is fed up with how the GOP is handling the investigation into the crimes committed by disgraced financier and convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein.

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, joined CNN’s Brianna Keilar on “CNN News Central” to discuss an ongoing interview of former Barclays CEO Jes Staley before the committee on Thursday. Garcia said that Staley was untruthful with the committee during the interview, a problem that was created by the way committee chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) structured the interview.

“[Staley] is denying having any sort of close relationship or friendship with Epstein, which is completely ridiculous,” Garcia said. “And all we have to do is read exchanges where literally there is reference to a best friendship there.”

Garcia noted that the committee possesses thousands of pages of documents outlining Staley’s relationship with Epstein, which Garcia characterized as “close.”

However, the committee seemed to have problems with getting Staley to be forthcoming about their relationship because he was not under oath, meaning there are few, if any, ways for lawmakers to hold him accountable for lying.

“He, like others that we’ve interviewed, is not under oath, and, I think, is empowered to not be fully honest with the committee,” Garcia said. “And so what we have said is … we’re going to bring back [these witnesses] under oath to answer these questions. It’s ridiculous and, quite frankly, shameful on the investigation that Chairman Comer continues to not have witnesses under oath.”