Republican fact-checked live on-air for giving Trump a pass on investigations

CNN host Pamela Brown clashed with Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) on Monday during a debate over several political issues, from the Justice Department's botched release of files related to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein to the president's alternative July 4th celebration.

The debate began when Comer was making excuses for the lack of accountability around Epstein, saying that there were so many states involved in an investigation and that they weren't coordinating with each other. The FBI generally manages multi-state investigations under the Department of Justice.

Brown pivoted to the America 250 events and Trump's more partisan "Freedom 250." In the latter, Brown noted that Trump is profiting personally by selling coins for thousands and even by allowing donors access for top dollar. The Freedom 250 isn't supposed to be a political organization, but there's also no oversight to explore whether there is any self-dealing.

Is this something you would be willing to investigate as the head of oversight, whether the president is profiting off of the presidency, the president and his family?” Brown asked Comer.

“Well, there’s a ... story almost on a weekly basis that would, you know, imply that there’s some ... profiteering taking place from members of the president’s family,” Comer confessed. “But, you know, they said, well, you need to investigate. Well, you reported it. We investigated Biden because —"

But Brown cut in again as Comer tried to change the subject and filibustered over the top of her.

“So, because it’s transparent — Okay, so hold on. Let me just make sure I understand,” Brown interrupted. “So, because they’re open about it, it’s okay? But if they’re not open about it, it’s not okay?"

Comer claimed he "tried" to pass an ethics bill, but he said that Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) "killed it because he thought Kamala Harris was going to be president."

"Okay..." Brown cut in again as Comer rambled.

"I think that there needs to be — there’s nothing I’ve seen that President Trump or his family done illegal. If people don’t like it, I think that’s a political debate," Comer claimed. Brown was trying to get at the idea that there hasn't been any investigation into whether Trump or his family did anything illegal regarding the Freedom 250 events.

Comer said that "voters can decide at the polls" what they think.

"But the bottom line is you won’t investigate, correct? Just to make sure," Brown clarified.

"Well, everything that — you know, the deals that they’re in! You may not like them. I’ve not seen any law that says anything’s illegal. Now, do I like them? I think that that answer is pretty clear," Comer claimed.

Brown noted that Comer had raised previous concerns about influence peddling under the previous administration, but doesn't seem interested in giving the Trump administration equal treatment.

"So, you previously raised those concerns. I just wondered if you had the same concerns. We have to run, but I’ll give you the final word here," she said.

"Yeah, well, the concerns with Biden are because he said he wasn’t taking money from China and these other countries. When we subpoenaed the bank records, they were," Comer said. Former President Joe Biden never took money from China. The company that his son was working for had a contract with a Chinese company.

Comer explained his logic is that Trump's behavior is fine because he's not denying it.

"So, Biden said he wasn’t doing this stuff. Trump acknowledges that he is. Now, should some of this be illegal? I —" Comer said before Brown cut him off again to note that Trump hasn't revealed his tax returns.

"But the tax returns didn't show all this money from China or other places," Comer said. Trump hasn't revealed those tax returns. He said that the U.S. has never had a "businessman" as a president, so it's a unique situation. In fact, several presidents have owned private businesses, including the first president.