Full Measure After Hours: Rep. James Comer on Tackling Govt. Corruption

Host: Sharyl Attkisson
Guest: Rep. James Comer, Chairman, House Oversight Committee
Date: January 8, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Sharyl Attkisson interviews Rep. James Comer, Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, about government corruption, so-called "deep state" resistance to the Trump administration’s agenda, classified document disputes, federal whistleblowers, campaign finance investigations, and the challenge of shrinking government. Comer offers insider perspectives on internal battles within federal agencies, ongoing Oversight Committee investigations, and the struggle for accountability and transparency in Washington.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Deep State Resistance and the Trump Agenda

• Preparedness of the Second Trump Administration

  • Comer notes marked differences between Trump’s first and second terms regarding preparedness and execution of policy.
  • “They've been very calculated in how they've done the executive orders. A lot of the executive orders, they anticipated court challenges and they're lawyered up and ready to go.” (01:24)
  • Trump’s Cabinet appointees are facing entrenched internal opposition within agencies, particularly by career employees with longstanding bureaucratic protections.

• Bureaucratic Obstacles

  • Departments such as Justice and EPA populated by “left wing activists” are described as intentionally slowing or obstructing Trump’s initiatives.
  • Comer advances the idea of reclassifying federal employees under "Schedule F" to make them easier to dismiss for insubordination.
  • “That's why we want to reclassify a lot of the federal employees...if you don't follow the orders... then you can lose your job.” (03:49)

2. Release of Classified Documents: JFK & Epstein Files

• Oversight Committee Actions

  • A special task force, led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, is pursuing agency compliance with presidential declassification orders, particularly for the JFK assassination files and Epstein case documents.
  • Bureaucratic “stalling” tactics are highlighted, with only partial releases of documents despite orders to disclose all.
  • “When President Trump ordered the declassification of the JFK files, we found out a few days later that the bureaucracy only released a handful of documents.” (02:44)

• Transparency Concerns

  • Comer questions not only government noncompliance but the very existence or intactness of crucial evidence.
  • “...if the government was involved in some type of role in the Kennedy assassination ... I would think that file would disappear very quickly.” (06:36)
  • Skepticism is also cast on the completeness of any Epstein files—especially high liability items like videos—surviving inside agencies.
  • “...was our government involved in this? Were they potentially blackmailing some of the most influential people ... if so, the government knew that there was possibly human trafficking ... what were they doing?” (07:15)

3. Accountability, Hearings, and Internal Struggles

• Naming Names & Hearings Planned

  • The Committee anticipates holding public hearings in which noncompliant bureaucrats or agency heads would be directly questioned.
  • “Anna Paulina Luna's chomping at the bit to bring some of these people in... If you come in front of the House Oversight Committee and you've been behaving badly, it's not going to end well for you.” (04:57)

• Ongoing Investigations Excuse

  • Agencies often stonewall by citing ongoing investigations, both historically in JFK matters and contemporarily with Epstein, hindering Congressional oversight.
  • “There's an ongoing investigation. There's probably been an ongoing investigation of the Kennedy assassination since the 60s...” (05:52)

4. Internal Agency Conflicts

• Hostile Work Environments & Appointee Experiences

  • DOJ officials like Pam Bondi are described as facing agency hostility and sabotage.
  • Notable stories include former AG Jeff Sessions whispering in his own office due to surveillance fears, and Bill Barr’s struggles with untruthful briefings from intelligence heads.
  • “Bill Barr was told things by his intelligence officials...that just weren't true...very difficult when you have all these people around you that are, that are just not honest.” (11:19)

• Limits of Presidential Orders

  • Cabinet officials lack power over career employees insulated from political accountability, leading to persistent and systemic opposition to presidential mandates.
  • “The way ... personnel laws are ... it's impossible almost to fire these people, even though they're directly disobeying an order from the newly elected president...” (12:38)

5. Oversight Committee Priorities: ActBlue, Hunter Biden, and Whistleblowers

A. ActBlue Investigation

• Concerns Over Campaign Finance Flows
  • ActBlue, a Democratic fundraising platform, allegedly accepted vast sums via a suspiciously high number of small, anonymous donations.
  • “All these $150 donations, $175, $199 donations, just miraculously coming in every day...ActBlue out-raised WinRed like 7 or 8 to 1.” (14:17)
  • Evidence suggests donor name re-use and possible foreign money or money laundering.
  • “We know there are people whose names were used in making donations that have already come out and said, we never made this donation.” (15:44)
  • Comer notes numerous recent resignations at ActBlue as a sign the investigation is hitting nerves. (16:37)
  • There are questions about whether the DOJ ignored possible criminal issues for political reasons.

B. Hunter Biden & The Biden Family

• Uncovering “Influence Peddling” & Governmental Cover-Ups

  • Comer's investigations detailed financial flows to the Biden family and government agencies’ alleged suppression of those investigations.
  • “There were the crimes the Biden family committed ... and then there was the crime that the government knew... but ... covered it up...” (17:37)
  • Accusations that IRS and other agencies were told by “deep state bureaucrats” to stand down.

• Whistleblower Fates

  • IRS whistleblowers (Shapley and Zeigler) have reportedly been rewarded in the new administration as a signal to future whistleblowers.
  • Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan also supporting protections. “If you come forward and blow the whistle and what you say is true...you're going to be rewarded. At the very least, you're not going to be retaliated against.” (20:44)
  • FBI whistleblowers’ outcomes still unclear; process ongoing.

C. Whistleblower Protections

• Committee Considering New Laws & Hearings
  • Attkisson and Comer discuss pitfalls in current whistleblower protections and potential future reforms to reward rather than punish truth-tellers.
  • “We can't make it without whistleblowers because anytime we request information...they're going to say ... there's an ongoing investigation.” (22:25)

6. Shrinking Government & Legislative Efforts

• Efforts and Challenges

  • Emphasis on reducing the size and scope of government, with specific mention of eliminating the Department of Education and FEMA, and rolling responsibilities back to the states.
  • “There's an opportunity to eliminate a bunch of unnecessary federal agencies like the US Department of Education and return the power back to the states. There's an opportunity to eliminate FEMA...” (24:30)

• Congressional Pushback

  • Shrinking government is politically unpopular, especially among members worried about reelection fallout from job losses in their districts.
  • “We've got some guys that'll never be in a book called Profiles of Courage...Their number one priority ... is self preservation.” (27:55)

• Trump’s Leverage

  • Trump’s popularity with the Republican base may override some hesitancy among GOP members.
  • “If I start going against President Trump's agenda, people will be mad at me in my district. So I support the president's agenda...” (29:19)
  • Strategy relies on putting tough votes up and letting Trump pressure reluctant members personally.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Unreleased Files:
  “There’s a reason the government doesn’t want to turn over all the JFK files. There’s a reason the government doesn’t want to turn over the Epstein files.” – Comer (03:35)
• On Internal Government Hostility:
  “You put these administrators in and they have a mandate…But then…EPA employees say, no, no, no, we’re not going to approve any permits.” – Comer (12:38)
• On Whistleblowers:
  “If you come forward and blow the whistle and what you say is true … you’re going to be rewarded.” – Comer (20:44)
• On Political Courage:
  “We’ve got some guys that’ll never be in a book called Profiles of Courage...” – Comer (27:55)
• On Trump’s Influence:
  “Let President Trump talk to them, because if you go against the mandate that President Trump received … that’s a different deal.” – Comer (29:19)

Important Timestamps by Segment

• Trump Second Term & Deep State Resistance: 01:24 – 03:49
• Oversight on Classified Files (JFK, Epstein): 02:44 – 04:49, 05:52 – 07:15
• Public Hearings/accountability: 04:57 – 05:44
• Challenges with Non-Compliance: 05:52 – 06:36
• Internal Fears & AG Experiences: 11:07 – 12:38
• ActBlue/Campaign Finance Inquiry: 14:03 – 16:37
• Hunters Biden Investigation: 17:37 – 18:53
• IRS/FBI Whistleblowers: 20:34 – 22:25
• Whistleblower Reform: 22:25 – 23:39
• Shrinking Government & Legislation: 24:05 – 27:16
• GOP Congressional Dynamics: 27:41 – 29:19

Conclusion

Rep. James Comer paints a picture of an entrenched bureaucracy, suspicious campaign finance channels, persistent fights for transparency, and the difficulties of reforming large federal institutions. The Oversight Committee promises action on whistleblower protections, agency accountability, and major reductions in government, leveraging both legislative measures and the political capital of President Trump’s popularity.

For further information and to watch related interviews, visit the Full Measure YouTube Channel and FullMeasure.News.