While state politics was center stage at Kentucky's Fancy Farm over the weekend, one of the nation’s biggest controversies was also top of mind for Rep. James Comer, the area’s congressman.

Comer had just delayed a planned deposition of Ghislaine Maxwell, a close associate and co-conspirator of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, whose case has once again captured national attention. Comer was previously slated to head to Florida to interview Maxwell next week.

On Friday, Comer responded to attorneys for Maxwell agreeing to delay the deposition until the Supreme Court of the United States considers a petition her legal team filed. That was one of many terms she sought, threatening to “plead the Fifth” and offer no comment during the deposition.

“I don’t see any need in going down there and her pleading the Fifth. We want to hear from her, I think the American people have a lot of questions, and Congress has tasked me with the job to get the answers. We’re going to do that,” Comer said Saturday.

“We’re working with her attorneys in a sincere manner to try to get down there as quick as possible.”

That may not come to pass for another couple months, as the court is not slated to consider Maxwell’s case until Sep. 29. POLITICO noted the interview is “not likely to happen before the court begins its annual term in October.”

In a letter to Maxwell’s lead attorney, Comer wrote he was “unwilling” to grant Maxwell other requested conditions such as a grant of congressional immunity and access to the committee’s questions in advance.

A Comer spokesperson said that subpoenas to the U.S. Department of Justice for all records related to the Epstein files as well as for prominent Democrats Bill and Hillary Clinton, former attorneys general and investigators will be filed “soon.” Comer’s committee voted to send those subpoenas late last month.

Comer is well aware that people across the political spectrum are intensely interested in the Epstein. He knows from the question he fields from fellow baseball dads at the fields.

“These aren’t political people that go to baseball games, and the first question they ask me is, ‘Hey, what’s the deal with the Epstein list?’ Every member of Congress is hearing from back home,” Comer said.

The story has been somewhat complicated for Republicans given that President Donald Trump is reportedly in the investigative files into Epstein, with whom he had a 14-year-long friendly relationship. Trump has been dismissive of reporting tying him to Epstein as well as members of his own party who continue to be interested in the case.

Comer said he didn’t think Trump had mishandled the controversy and that he believes Trump when he says that he intends to “hand everything over.”

“I take the president at his word. It’s a complicated thing to just turn over documents that have lists of names of people that may have been sexually assaulted, especially if they were minor. I understand that, but I think the president’s got the message that members of Congress in both parties are hearing from our constituents and we want to know the truth about Epstein,” Comer said.

The congressman, whose 1st Congressional District covers West Kentucky as well as parts of Central Kentucky, is widely considered to be laying the groundwork for a gubernatorial run in 2027. He did not shy away from calls for him to run made by multiple statewide officers and fans over the weekend at Fancy Farm, the state’s biggest political speaking event.

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