JAMES COMER HAS BEEN REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE OF THE 1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY SINCE 2016.

HE'S ALSO THE RANKING REPUBLICAN LEADER OF THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT AND REFORM COMMITTEE.

THE KET PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM TRAVELED TO TOMPKINSVILLE TO CATCH UP WITH THE CONGRESSMAN ON MATTERS RELATED TO AFGHANISTAN, COVID-19 AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

NOW ON CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE.

CONGRESSMAN COMER, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE IN YOUR HOME DISTRICT IN YOUR OFFICE HERE IN TOMPKINSVILLE.

72 FOR HAVING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ME.

>> WE'RE ON THE EVE OF YOUR BIRTH SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE WON'T ASK YOU THE NUMBER TO SHARE WITH US.

>> 49.

>> '49.

THAT'S A GOOD YEAR.

>> HANGING ON.

>> I UNDERSTAND.

I WANT TO ASK YOU BEING BACK IN THE DISTRICT IT'S BEEN SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT TIMES THAT WE'RE IN BETWEEN COVID WITH THE ESCALATION IN AFGHANISTAN, ALL THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE ECONOMY, INFRASTRUCTURE, ALL THE THINGS YOU'RE DEALING WITH.

WHAT DO YOUR CONSTITUENTS TELL YOU IN THE FIRST 1st CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THAT THEY WANT JAMES COMER, THEIR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, TO TAKE ON?

>> WELL, THERE IS THIS IS A VERY CONSERVATIVE DISTRICT AS YOU KNOW, RENEE.

THEY'RE PRETTY OUTRAGED RIGHT NOW.

NOTHING HEIR THEY'RE SEEING FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS APPEALING TO THE AVERAGE CITIZENS IN THE 1st DISTRICT.

YOU'RE SEEING MASSIVE INFLATION AND PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT YOU CANNOT KEEP PRINTING MONEY IN WASHINGTON, DC, AND BE SURPRISED WHEN THINGS START COSTING MORE MONEY.

YOU'RE CREATING INFLATION.

THE GOVERNMENT EVERY DAY IS CREATING INFLATION.

AND WITH WHAT JOE BIDEN AND CHUCK SCHUMER AND NANCY PELOSI ARE PUSHING WITH THIS INFRASTRUCTURE WILL ON TOP OF THIS BUDGET RECONCILIATION BILL, THAT'S $5 TRILLION MORE THAT IS GOING TO BE POURED INTO THE ECONOMY THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TONIGHT FLATE THE PRICES OF GOODS AND PRICE OF SERVICES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

SO THEY'RE UPSET ABOUT THAT.

THEY'RE VERY UPSET ABOUT A LACK OF BORDER SECURITY.

WE HAVE A HUGE DRUG PROBLEM IN RURAL KENTUCKY.

AS YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE DRUG AGENTS AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SAY THAT THE CRYSTAL METH AND THE FENTANYL IS COMING FROM MEXICO, COMING RIGHT UP THAT BORDER.

I'VE BEEN TO NEW MEXICO AND I CAN IS OF THAT THE BORDER IS WIDE OPEN, AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT REALIZE THAT.

THEY'RE ALSO VERY -- JUST DISAPPOINTED IN THE BIDEN SOCIAL AGENDA.

IT'S A LOT MORE LIBERAL THAN THE CONSERVATIVE DISTRICT WOULD LIKE.

SO I THINK THAT PEOPLE WANT ME TO GO TO WASHINGTON AND FIGHT.

THEY DON'T LIKE A LOT OF THE COVID-19 MANDATES.

I THINK THEY TAKE COVID-19 SERIOUSLY FOR THE MOST PART, BUT THEY DON'T LIKE GOVERNOR BESHEAR OR JOE BIDEN SAYING CAN'T YOU GO TO THIS RESTAURANT AND THIS RESTAURANT CAN ONLY SEAT THREE PEOPLE.

THEY DON'T LIKE BEING TOLD TO WEAR A MASK.

THEY WOULD PROBABLY WEAR A MASK MORE IF THEY WERE ASKED TO WEAR A MASK OR TOLD OR MANDATED TO WEAR A MASK.

THERE'S A LOT OF OUTRAGE AND IT DOESN'T FALL UNDER UNPARTICULAR CATEGORY RIGHT NOW.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK THAT BECAUSE SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY COME FROM THE GOVERNOR AND, OF COURSE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS ITS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WEARING MASK WEARING IN FEDERAL BUILDINGS.

UNDERSTAND THE HOUSE WHEN YOU RETURNED, SPEAKER PROCEEDS HAS REQUIRED THERE BE MASK WEARING THERE, IS NOT THE SAME IN THE SENATE.

SO THE ISSUE OVER MASK WEARING AND VACCINATIONS SEEMS TO BE WHAT'S A COMMON THREAD THAT IS REALLY DIVIDING THIS NATION.

DO YOU THINK THAT THIS SIR, COVID HAS BEEN OVERPOLITICIZED?

AND HOW DO WE GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CANNING KIND OF GET ON ONE PAGE SO THAT WE CAN GET BEYOND THIS PANDEMIC?

>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE AT THE POINT OF NO RETURN WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT POLITICIZATION OF COVID-19.

BOTH SIDES HAVE POLITICIZED IT IT==.

I THINK THAT YOU HAVE A LOT OF, THIS IS MY OPINION, A LOT OF DEMOCRATS THAT HAVE BEEN OVERDRAMATIC AND OVERREACTIVE ON A LOT OF REGULATIONS THAT WERE UNNECESSARY AND BURDENSOME.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE COMPLETELY BLOWN IT OFF THAT HAVE SHARED MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE POSITIVES OF THE VACCINE AND WEARING MASKS.

YOU'VE GOT A SITUATION WHERE VERY FEW PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT BELIEVE ANYTHING DR. FAUCI SAYS RIGHT NOW, FOR BETTER OR WORSE, THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.

THERE'S NOT A LARGE LEVEL OF TRUST WITH ANDY BESHEAR.

THERE'S NOT A LARGE LEVEL OF TRUST WITH SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE VERY VOCAL AGAINST MASK WEARING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I THINK WE NEED TO SEE NEW PEOPLE EMERGE TO BE THE NEW SPOKESMEN OF COVID-19, NEW LEADERSHIP ON THAT FRONT, AND I THINK WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON HOW SERIOUS THIS IS, THE BENEFITS BEING VACCINATED, THE BENEFITS OF WEARING A MASK, BUT NOT MANDATE MASK WEARING, NOT MANDATE BUSINESSES TO COMPLY WITH BURDENSOME, UNNECESSARY RULES.

YOU KNOW, EVERYONE SAYS FOLLOW THE SCIENCE, AND THE SCIENCE HONESTLY IS ALL OVER THE BOARD ON A LOT OF THINGS.

WE'RE JUST LEARNING IN THE LAST FEW DAYS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A BOOSTER SHOT NOW FOR THAT, AND THAT PROBABLY HURTS THE CAUSE ON PEOPLE THAT ARE VACCINE HESITANT.

SO I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO SEE NEW FACES EMERGE THAT SOMEHOW GAIN THE TRUST OF BOTH LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES ABOUT COVID.

THE HAPPY MEDIUM WOULD BE THIS IS SERIOUS.

WE NEED TO SOCIAL DISTANCE.

WE SHOULD WEAR A MASK WHEN WE'RE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO OTHER PEOPLE.

HAND SANITIZER YOU.

NEED TO BE VACCINATED.

I'M VACCINATED.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WITH RESPECT TO MASK MANDATES AND VACCINE PASSPORTS, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO DO.

>> AND YOU JUST MENTIONED YOU'RE VACCINATED, I BELIEVE YOUR WIFE IS VACCINATED, AND SO DO YOU THINK REPUBLICANS LIKE YOURSELF ARE DOING ENOUGH TO DISMANTLE THE DIS OR MISINFORMATION ABOUT VACCINES?

IS YOUR PARTY DOING ENOUGH TO MAYBE GET MORE REPUBLICANS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO ARE, ACCORDING TO RESEARCH AND DATA, ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE VACCINE HESITANT OR REFUSE A VACCINE?

>> I THINK MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE DONE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS.

WE HAVE PUT ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WE'VE BEEN VACCINATED AND WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BE VACCINATED.

NOW, WE'RE VERY CLEAR, MOST OF US DON'T WANT GOVERNMENT MANDATES.

WE DON'T WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO SAY YOU HAVE TO BE VACCINATED.

WE DON'T WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO SAY YOU HAVE TO WEAR A MASK.

OUTSIDE, WHEREVER YOU ARE.

Y WE DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARY AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT THE SCIENCE PROVES TO US THAT YOU NEED TO DO THAT.

BUT I DO THINK REPUBLICANS ARE VERY LEERY OF DR. FAUCI AND THE FACT THAT HE CONTINUES TO GO ON AND TALK.

WE REALLY ARE A LOT MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ORIGINATION OF COVID-19 THAN THE DEMOCRATS ARE.

I THINK DR. FAUCI KNOWS A LOT MORE ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THAT WUHAN LAB THAN HE'S BEEN TRANSPARENT WITH US ABOUT, SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK REPUBLICANS GET A BAD RAP FOR NOT BEING AS CONCERNED ABOUT COVID AS DEMOCRATS, BUT WE ARE.

WE'RE JUST CONCERNED ABOUT A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.

WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DAMAGE THE SHUTDOWNS HAVE DONE TO THE ECONOMY.

WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT DR. OFF.

'S CREDIBILITY AND WHAT HE KNEW AND WHEN HE KNEW IT WITH RESPECT TO THE ORIGINAL NATION OF COVID-19.

DR. OFF.

'S CREDIBILITY.

I THINK MY PARTY, WE NEED TO DO MORE.

WHEN I HAVE A DIE OF HARD CONSERVATIVE GET ON ME, THEY SAW A PICTURE OF ME ON FACEBOOK WEARING A MASK OR THEY CAN'T BELIEVE I'M VACCINATED, I SAY ONES THAT DONALD TRUMP CREATED OPERATION WARP SPEED, THAT DONALD TRUMP WAS THE ONE THAT OVERSAW THE THREE VACCINATIONS AND DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN VACCINATED.

DONALD TRUMP WAS VACCINATED AFTER HE HAD COVID.

SO -- AND YOU HAVE SOME REPUBLICANS SAYING YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE VACCINATED AFTER YOU HAVE COVID.

WELL, TRUMP WAS.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I TRY TO TELL.

SO I DO, WHEN I HAVE SOMEONE SAY SOMETHING TO ME THAT I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT ISN'T ACCURATE ABOUT COVID, I TRY TO PULL OUT THEM TO TELL THEM THIS IS WHAT MY VIRUS TELL ME.

UNLIKE ANDY BESHEAR AND JOE BIDEN WHO SAYS YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU'RE NOT EDUCATED, YOU NEED TO WEAR A MASK OUTSIDE OR IF YOUR CAR OR WHEN YOU'RE BY YOURSELF OR WHATEVER.

>> AND YOU LOOK IN THIS AREA IN THIS DISTRICT, THE JACKS NATION RATES ARE 30% MAYBE.

>> MAYBE.

>> WE KNOW THAT THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND ACROSS THE NATION HOSPITAL BEDS ARE FILLING UP, THEY'RE AT CAPACITY.

THE EXPERIENCE OF THE 1st CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, IS IT SIMILAR?

>> YES.

I HAVE 29 OPS HOSPITALS IN MY DISTRICT.

I HAVE NO HOSPITALS THAN ANY MEMBER OF CONGRESS AND JUST ABOUT EVERY ONE OF THEM IS FULL.

AND THERE ARE ONLY, AS OF TODAY, TWO OR THREE ICU BEDS AVAILABLE IN APPLY WHOLE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

IN MY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, AS YOU KNOW, COMPRISES ABOUT A THIRD OF THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

>> GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINATION OR THE GENESIS OF THE COVID OUTBREAK, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE REALLY BEEN ON WITH DR. FAUCI AND PRESSING THE SCIENTISTS AND THE EXPERTS, VIROLOGIST, EPIDEMIOLOGISTS, ABOUT THE ORIGINATION OF THE VIRUS IN CHINA.

WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT FOR TO US MOVE FORWARD?

AND DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF GETTING MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED AND PRACTICING MITIGATION MEASURES?

WILL IT HELP REALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE IN IF WE KNOW HOW IT BEGAN?

>> I SO.

I THINK WE NEED TO KNOW HOW IT BEGAN.

WE WERE TOLD FOR A YEAR THAT IT CAME, ORIGINATED FROM AN ANIMAL, FROM ANIMAL TO HUMAN.

JUST ABOUT EVERY SCIENTIST THAT'S HAD THE DATA NOW AND THE GENE SEQUENCES KNOWS THAT THAT'S NOT HOW IT STARTED.

IT WAS ENGINEERED.

AND THE -- WE HAVE TO KNOW WHERE IT STARTED BECAUSE WHO IS TO SAY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO START A COVID 20 OR A COVID-21 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

WE ALSO NEED TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THE PEOPLE THAT CREATED COVID-19.

IF IT WAS ENGINEERED IN A LAB IN WUHAN, WHICH THE EVIDENCE IS POINTING MORE AND MORE THAT THAT WAS THE CASE, THEN WE NEED TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE, NOT ONLY DOES CHINA NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED, FROM WHAT OUR RESEARCH ON SHOWING, MONTHS BEFORE WE EVEN HAD EVER HEARD OF COVID-19, MAY BE IN THE LATE SUMMER OF A YEAR PRIOR TO THAT.

SO THAT WAS VALUABLE TIME THAT THEY COULD HAVE BEEN -- YOU COULD HAVE BUILT A WALL AROUND WUHAN, CHINA AND CONTAINED THAT DISEASE.

YOU WOULD HAVE PROHIBITED TRAVEL THERE.

YOU COULD HAVE STARTED WORK ON THE VACCINE SOONER.

SO A LOT OF LIVES, TENS OF THOUSANDS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, MILLION IONS OF LIVES WERE LOST BECAUSE OF CHINA NOT BEING FORTHCOMING WITH THAT.

AND ALSO, WHY WERE THEY DOING THAT?

WHY WERE THEY DOING THE GAIN OF FUNCTION RESEARCH IN THAT LAB?

WHAT'S THE POINT OF THAT?

WERE YOU TRYING TO CREATE A VIRUS SO YOU COULD SELL A VACCINE?

ARE YOU CREATING A BIOLOGICAL WEAPON?

THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO KNOW.

AND THE WORK THAT MY COMMITTEE'S DONE, OVERSIGHT, WE DETERMINE THAT THERE WERE TAX DOLLARS THAT ENDED UP IN THAT LAB THROUGH THE NATIONAL HEALTH ALLIANCE, THROUGH DR. OFF.

WEB A COMPANY CALLED ECO HEALTH ALLIANCE, WHICH WORKED WITH THE WUHAN LAB, AND THERE MAY BE SOME OTHER AMERICAN COMPANIES THAT HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THAT LAB.

WE'RE LOOKING INTO THAT.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS OUT THERE.

IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING THAT WE'RE HAVING TO DIG AND PROBE, AND IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING THAT THE DEMOCRATS ON THE COMMITTEE AREN'T WORKING WITH US AT ALL.

BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SAYING THE DEMOCRATS STARTED COVID-19.

THIS ISN'T A PARTISAN THING.

WE'RE SAYING IT LOOKS LIKE CHINA STARTED COVID-19, AND THIS SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION THAT REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON, AND SO FAR IT'S ONLY BEEN REPUBLICANS.

>> AND SO WHERE DOES THE INVESTIGATION STAND NOW?

>> WE'RE STILL -- WE HAVE REQUESTED THE UNREDACTED EMAILS THAT DR. FAUCI HAD THAT THE COMMUNICATION DR. FAUCI HAD EARLY ON CONTRADICTS MUCH OF THE TESTIMONY HE PROVIDE TO THE SENATE IN SOME OF HIS HEARINGS, SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO PIECE THIS TOGETHER.

FAUCI IS NOT COOPERATING ONE BIT WITH US.

I THINK IT'S TIME FOR DR. FAUCI TO GO.

I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET A NEW FACE IN THERE AT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND NATIONAL HEALTH, SO THAT WE CAN EDUCATE PEOPLE, AND THE PEOPLE IN AMERICA CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN WHAT EXACTLY IS BEING TOLD ABOUT COVID-19.

>> AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, CONGRESSMAN.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT DR. ANTHONY FAUCI SHOULD RESIGN?

AND NOT JUST HIM BUT ROCHELLE WOLINSKI WHO IS OVER THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT SHE'S A CULPRIT AS WELL?

>> I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT HER YET SO I'M GOING TO RESERVE JUDGMENT ON HER, BUT DR. FAUCI, A LOT OF REPUBLICANS WERE CALLING HOW MANY TO RESIGN EARLY ON, AND THEY REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION.

I HELD BACK.

I WANTED TO GET THE FACTS TOGETHER.

BUT THE FACT THAT HE'S NOT WORKING WITH US ON ANY OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF GRANT MONEY THAT ENDED UP IN THE WUHAN LAB, ABOUT HIS KNOWLEDGE, DID YOU KNOW THEY WERE DOING THE GAIN OF FUNCTION RESEARCH THERE?

WHAT'S THE POINT IN DOING THAT?

WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?

OTHER THAN TO CREATE A BIOLOGICAL WEAPON OR TO CREATE A VIRUS, ARE YOU CREATING A VIRUS SO YOU CAN SELL A VACCINE?

FOR PROFIT?

IS IT AN ACT OF WAR?

I DON'T KNOW.

AND HE'S NOT DOING ANYTHING TO HELP US.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU AMERICA WANTS TO KNOW.

THIS COSTS THEIR CHILDREN A YEAR OF THEIR EDUCATION LIVES.

THIS HAS COST US ALL PAIN AND SUFFERING.

WE ALL KNOW SOMEONE WHO DIED OF COVID-19.

AND AT THE VERY LEAST WE DESERVE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE.

AND THE FACT THAT DR. FAUCI WON'T ANSWER ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS, IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING.

SO, YES, I THINK IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO GO AND I THINK HE SHOULD RESIGN.

>> ANOTHER ELEMENT TO THIS COVID PANDEMIC, THE DELTA VARIANT, AS YOU KNOW, IS FEELING FUELING THE INCREASE OF THESE COVID CASES, AND THERE ARE MANY AND MANY COME FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO BLAME PRESIDENT BIDEN FOR SURGE BECAUSE OF BORDER POLICIES.

DO YOU MAKE A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE INCREASED RISE IN COVID CASES FROM THE DELTA VARIANT TO BORDER CONTROL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I DO.

>> WHY?

>> WELL, IVER BEEN TO THE BOARD.

THAT DIFFERENTIATES ME FROM A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR TALKING ABOUT THE BORDER.

I'VE BEEN TO THE BORDER.

J AND JUST LAST WEEK THERE WERE OVER 50 BORDER AGENTS WHO WERE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID.

THE DETENTION CENTER IN EL PASO, WHERE I HAVE ALSO BEEN, HUGE OUTBREAK, JUST ABOUT EVERY ONE OF THE DETAINEES IN THE DETENTION CENTER TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID.

SO WE HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE COMING ACROSS THE BORDER THAT HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED FOR ANYTHING, MUCH LESS COVID-19, AND THEY'RE COMING IN THE UNITED STATES WITH THE BIDEN POLICY NOW, HE'S NOT SENDING ANYBODY BACK HOME, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE UNDER 18, BECAUSE OF THE 72-HOUR RULE WHICH SAYS YOU CAN ONLY DETAIN THESE UNACCOMPANIED MINORS FOR 72 HOURS.

THEY'RE IMMEDIATELY TAKING THEM TO SANCTUARY CITIES ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES FOR TEMPORARY SHELTERS.

THEY'RE NOT BEING TESTED IN MANY INSTANCES UNTIL THEY GET TO THEIR SECOND OR THIRD DESTINATION, AND BY THAT TIME WHO KNOWS HOW MANY PLACES AND HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY'VE SPREAD COVID OR ANYTHING ELSE TO, SO THE LACK OF BORDER SECURITY HAS NO DOUBT INCREASED THE DELTA VARIANT THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH.

YOU SEE THE SOUTHERN STATES ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST POSITIVITY RATES.

AND JUST LOOKING AT THE BORDER PATROL AGENTS, IT'S VERY ODD THAT THAT MANY WOULD TEST POSITIVE.

SO, YES, I THINK HIS LACK OF BORDER SECURITY HAS CREATED A SURGE AT THE DELTA VARIANT.

>> THERE HAS BEEN RESEARCH THAT SAY PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS HAVE BEEN TESTIFIED AND BEEN INTERVIEWED ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAY THE SURGE IS DUTY TO UNVACCINATED, NOT THE MIGRANTS.

THOSE ARE THE CULL SPRITZ, NOT, AND THEY SAY THAT MIGRANTS WHO ARE ENTERED ARE GENERALLY TESTED FOR COVID-19 AND GIVEN HOTEL ROOMS TO QUARANTINE IF THEY DO TEST POSITIVE.

SO DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THOSE PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES ARE HAPPENING?

BECAUSE THESE HEALTH EXPERTS SAY THAT THE SURGE IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE MIGRANTS.

THOSE NUMBERS ARE TOO SMALL TO HAVE GIVEN RISE TO THIS RAMPANTNESS THAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THE DELTA VARIANT.

>> I DISAGREE WITH THAT.

AGAIN, OUR COMMITTEE, WE HAVE A LOT OF MEMBERS FROM TEXAS AND ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO ON THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE.

THEY'RE AT GROUND ZERO ON THIS.

YOU'VE GOT THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS.

THE NUMBERS INCREASE EVERY DAY.

THEY'RE MORE TODAY THAN THERE WERE YESTERDAY CROSSING THE BORDER ILLEGALLY.

THE BORDER PATROL AGENTS HAVE SAID IT'S A MASSIVE OUTBREAK DOWN THERE, THAT THEY'RE ALL TESTING POSITIVE, THAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT -- THEY'RE TESTING THEM BEFORE THEY GO.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY TOLD US AT EM PASSO.

SO THEY'RE COMING IN SO FAST THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO TEST THEM.

WHEN I WENT DOWN, THERE WERE KIDS IN DIAPERS.

THERE WERE KIDS STILL WITH BOTTLES DOWN THERE.

YOU SAW THE TIME THE PERSON DROPPED THE KID OVER THE FENCE, I WENT -- I WAS THERE.

THAT KID HAD JUST LEFT THE DETENTION FACILITY AT EL PASO, THOSE TWO KIDS THEY DROPPED OVER THE FENCE.

I MEAN, THEY'RE -- THEY CAN'T TEST THEM FAST ENOUGH.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO THAT.

SO THEY'RE SHIPPING THEM ALL OVER.

THEY'RE SHIPPING THEM TO CALIFORNIA.

THEY'RE SHIPPING THEM TO COLORADO.

THEY'RE SHIPPING THEM IN FLORIDA, IN NEW YORK.

THEY'RE TAKING THOSE KIDS EVERYWHERE BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ENOUGH HOTEL ROOMS TO PUT THEM IN.

SO YOU'VE GOT NOW WHAT WE FOUND ON THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, YOU'VE GOT THESE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE GOING IN BUYING THESE STRIP MALLS, SOLD SHUTDOWN MOTELS AND QUICKLY, WITH NO-BID CONTRACT, RENOVATING THEM AND MAKING TEMPORARY SHELTERS THERE, WHICH IS A CONCERN NOT ONLY FOR COVID BUT YOU'RE DEALING WITH YOUNG GIRLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE'S NOTHING GOOD THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS.

THE BEST THING THAT JOE BIDEN CAN DO IS SOMEHOW GET A MILITARY OPERATION DOWN THERE AND LET'S HOPE AND PRAY IT TURNS OUT BERNSTEIN HIS EVACUATION PLAN IN AFGHANISTAN, BUT GO DOWN THERE AND SECURE THE BORDER AND WORK WITH FEMA AND WORK WITH THE RED CROSS AND SET UP SHELTERS BECAUSE MOST OF THESE PEOPLE ARE COMING OVER HERE ARE COMING OVER HERE BECAUSE THEY WANT A BETTER LIFE.

>> THEY'RE SEEKING ASYLUM.

>> RIGHT.

THEY'RE SEEKING ALLY SEEKING A ASYLUM.

THEY'RE SEEKING A BETTER STANCH LIVING RESPECT THAT.

AND WE SHOULD PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR THEM.

WE'RE COMPASSIONATE PEOPLE.

BUT WE CAN DO THAT ON THE MEXICAN SIDE OF THE BORDER BECAUSE WHEN THEY COME OVER HERE, WE'RE STUCK WITH THEM.

>> SHOULD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAKE VACCINES AVAILABLE TO MIGRANTS?

WE HEAR VACCINES ARE BEING DISCARD BECAUSE NO ONE IS TAKING THEM.

THEY COULD GO TO THE BORDER.

>> THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO MORE ABOUT CONTROLLING THE BORDER.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO MORE ABOUT VACCINATION.

SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD BE IN COMMUNICATION WITH, WITH THE LEADER OF MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA.

>> I WITH AN TO GET BACK.

YOU JUST MENTIONED ABOUT AFGHANISTAN.

AND AT THE TIME THAT WE TAPE THIS INTERVIEW, PRESIDENT BIDEN HAD JUST MADE A PRETTY FULL-THROATED DEFENSE HIS STRATEGY, THAT HE BELIEVES HE'S MAKING THE RIGHT COURSE, THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I'M CURIOUS, BY THE TIME THIS INTERVIEW AIRS YOU ALL WILL BE BACK IN WASHINGTON PROBABLY DEALING WITH THIS VERY ISSUE.

THE ESCALATION IN AFGHANISTAN RIGHT NOW.

IS JOE BIDEN ON THE RIGHT PATH?

AND WHAT SHOULD HE BE DOING INSTEAD IF HE'S NOT?

>> JOE BIDEN WAS RIGHT TO REMOVE THE TROOPS FROM AFGHANISTAN.

I VOTED TO REMOVE THE TROOPS FROM AFGHANISTAN.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY QUESTION THE MAJORITY OF AMERICA WANTED OUR TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

>> AFTER 20 YEARS.

>> AFTER 20 YEARS AND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

HOWEVER, THE WAY THAT HE DID IT IS A JOKE.

IT'S THE BIGGEST NATIONAL SECURITY FAILURE IN MY LIFETIME.

THE WHOLE BIDEN PLAN WAS FOR THE AFGHAN FORCES TO SECURE THE PERIMETER AROUND THE CAPITOL, AND THEY DID NOT DO THAT.

HE SHOULD HAVE HAD A PLAN B.

HE SHOULD HAVE SENT IN AIRSTRIKES.

HE SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IF DONALD TRUMP OR GEORGE BUSH WERE PRESIDENT, THAT THE TALIBAN WOULD HAVE GONE INTO THE CAPITOL UNTIL THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS LEFT.

THEY WOULD HAVE GONE INTO THERE, INTO KABUL, THERE'S NO QUESTION.

BUT THEY HAVE NO FEAR OF JOE BIDEN, AND THAT'S A PROBLEM.

THAT'S A PROBLEM.

YOU'VE GOT MORE POTENTIAL TERRORIST ACTIVITY THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOT JUST BECAUSE AFGHANISTAN FAILED BUT BECAUSE THESE TERROR CELLS AREN'T AFRAID THAT HE'S GOING TO AIRSTRIKE.

HE'S NOT AFRAID THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TARGET THEM BECAUSE MAYBE THEY'RE IN PAKISTAN, MAYBE THEY'RE IN, YOU KNOW, AN ALLY, INDIA, WHO KNOWS.

BUT I THINK THAT YOU'VE GOT A SITUATION WHERE JOE BIDEN HURT THE CREDIBILITY OF THE UNITED STATES.

HE DEMORALIZED THE MORALE OF OUR UNITED STATES MILITARY.

HE MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT GAVE THEIR LIVES AND GAVE LIMBS OF THEIR BODY TO PROTECT AFGHANISTAN, TO TRAIN THAT FORCE, HE REALLY DEMORALIZED THEM, A LOT OF FAMILIES HAVE LOST LOVED ONES BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE AN ADEQUATE PLAN.

>> HE COULD ALSO GO ON PRESIDENT TRUMP'S IDEA.

>> I WANT TO GO ON IT ON A LIMB AND SAY PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD HAVE USED AIRSTRIKES AND TOOK OUT AS MANY OF THOSE TALIBAN ON THE WAY OUT AS HE COULD HAVE.

TRUMP WAS GOING TO REMOVE THOSE TROOPS.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

AND I THINK AFGHANISTAN WOULD HAVE EVENTUALLY FALLEN INTO THE HANDS OF THE TALIBAN.

THAT'S WHY I SAY LET'S GET OUT OF THERE.

BUT WE HAD AN OBLIGATION TO GET THOSE REFUGEES OUT YOU THAT HAD WORKED WITH US.

VOTED FOR THE BILL TO HELP PROVIDE REFUGE FOR THOSE PEOPLE.

WE PROMISED THEM THAT BEFORE I WAS IN CONGRESS, BUT FOR 20 YEARS WE'VE PROMISED THESE PEOPLE WE WERE GOING TO HELP THEM, AND THEY'RE GETTING SLAUGHTERED OVER THERE RIGHT NOW.

AND THE TROOPS, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST -- TO HAVE THE MILITARY THE SIZE OF THE UNITED STATES TO SPEND 20 YEARS OVER THERE AND TO BE EMBARRASSED LIKE THAT WHERE YOU'VE GOT A SAIGON MOMENT OF PEOPLE CLINGING ONTO AIRPLANES TRYING TO DESPERATELY GET OUT OF THERE AND HELICOPTERS, IT'S JUST A SAD KISS DISPLAY OF LEADERSHIP.

AGAIN, I SUPPORTED THE WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS, BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD A BETTER PLAN, AND THIS TALIBAN, THIS ISN'T LIKE THE ADVANCED, SOPHISTICATED NEW CHINESE ARMY.

THESE ARE A BUNCH GUYS WITH FLIP-FLOPS AND BAREFOOTED ON THE BANG OF LITTLE OLD TOYOTA PICKUP TRUCKS GOING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR WITH RIFLES AND SLING SHOTS.

AND WE COULDN'T TAKE THEM OUT OR HALT THEIR PROGRESS UNTIL WE GOT OUR PEOPLE AND OUR ALLIES OUT OF THERE?

IT'S JUST A TERRIBLE DAY IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA.

>> AS WE APPROACH THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 AND CONSIDERING WHAT'S HAPPENING, ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT AN ATTACK FROM A FOREIGN ADVERSARY THAT WOULD COINCIDE WITH THE ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11?

>> WELL, I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT A TERRORIST ATTACK.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PROBLEM SPOTS IN THE WORLD.

IRAN IS A PROBLEM SPOT AND THEY'RE MAKING LIFE HARD ON ISRAEL.

IF THINGS GO BAD IN ISRAEL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WORLD WAR III.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

IRAN'S A PROBLEM.

IRAQ'S A PROBLEM.

AFGHANISTAN'S A PROBLEM.

PAKISTAN'S A PROBLEM.

RUSSIA A EVER'S A PROBLEM.

CHINA'S A PROBLEM.

AND THEN THERE ARE A LOT OF LITTLE COUNTRIES THAT I PROBABLY COULDN'T FIND ON THE GLOBE 3-POINTER HACKING INTO AMERICAN COMPANIES RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE A SUPERIOR MILITARY.

WE HAVE AN INFERIOR CYBER DEFENSE SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE'RE NOT EVEN IN THE TOP TEN COUNTRIES FROM A CYBERSECURITY STANDPOINT.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF VULNERABILITIES WE SAW WITH THE RANSOMWARE ATTACKS GOING AROUND.

SO WE'VE GOT TO BE CAUTIOUS OVER FRONT.

NOW, THAT TALIBAN'S IN CONTROL OF AFGHANISTAN, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT ANOTHER BREEDING GROUND FOR TERRORISTS, SO IT'S JUST A SITUATION WHERE WE'VE GOT TO KEEP OUR EYE OUT, AND WHEN YOU'VE GOT A PRESIDENT THAT CAN'T EVEN SECURE THE BORDER BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR OUT THERE FROM A LOT OF THESE TERRORIST GROUPS.

SO I'M ALWAYS FEARFUL THAT WE COULD HAVE ANOTHER ATTACK.

>> AND THE SOPHISTICATION OF THE ATTACK MAY NOT LOOK LIKE 9/11 BUT FROM A CYBERSECURITY STANDPOINT IT WOULD BE JUST AS DEVASTATING FROM THAT PARTICULAR STANDPOINT, AND WE'RE NOT AS A COUNTRY PREPARED FOR THAT.

>> NO, WE'RE NOT.

AND THAT'S NOBODY'S FAULT.

WE'VE JUST -- WE'VE GOTTEN OUTFLANKED BY A LOT OF THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES FROM A CYBER STANDPOINT.

YOU DON'T THINKY -- WE IN AMERICA DON'T THINK ABOUT CYBER ATTACKING PEOPLE.

THAT'S NOT JUST WHO WE ARE.

AND OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT FOR YEARS.

>> I NEED ANOTHER HALF AN HOUR WITH YOU TO TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER THINGS BUT I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT YOUR POLITICAL FUTURE PUNCH COMING UP AT AND SAID VERY POINTEDLY THAT YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED IN RUNNING.

FOR GOVERNOR IN 2023, THAT YOU WANT TO CHAIRMAN OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON WHICH YOU ARE NOW A REPUBLICAN RANKING MEMBER.

WHY IS THAT SUCH AN IMPORTANT OFFICE FOR YOU?

AND HOW WOULD THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT BE BETTER OFF AND HOW WOULD KENTUCKY BE BETTER OFF IF YOU WERE CHAIRMAN?

>> WELL, THE LAST REPUBLICANS OF THE CHAIRMAN HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AWAY TREY GUEDE ECONOMY ANY GOOD REPUBLICANS OR FOX NEWS VIEWER KNOWS WHO TREY GUIDE IS.

THAT COMMITTEE HAS MORE JURISDICTION THAN ANY, THERE'S UNLIMITED ABUSE.

THERE'S SO MUCH WASTE AND FRAUD.

THAT COMMITTEE HAS THE POWER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I THINK FROM A TAXPAYER, A GOOD GOVERNMENT STANDPOINT THERE'S NOTHING I COULD DO ANYWHERE THAT WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL TO THE 1st DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY, ALL OF KENTUCKY, AMERICA THAN THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE OVERSIDE REFORM COMMITTEE AND REALLY BE SERIOUS AND GO AFTER WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE.

MY WHOLE CAREER HAS BEEN ABOUT THAT.

IT'S COST ME IMPLICIT BIAS I'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND SOMETIMES THE KENTUCKY PEOPLE LIKE THE STATUS QUO.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE SO FAR BEHIND TENNESSEE AND INDIANA AND SOME OF THE MORE PROGRESSIVE STATES WITH RESPECT TO CLEANING UP WASTE, FRAUD, ABUSE AND MISMANAGEMENT.

BUT I LOVE KENTUCKY.

MAYBE SOME DAY SOMETHING -- THERE WILL BE AN OPENING.

BUT RIGHT NOW TO JUST BE IN CONGRESS FOUR YEARS AND ALREADY RISE TO THE LEVEL OF BEING CHAIRMAN OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IS PRETTY GOOD.

WE HAVE HAD ABOUT THREE OTHER CHAIRMEN, CARL PERKINS, HAL ROGERS, WILLIAM NATCHER, AND THEY WERE IN CONGRESS OVER 30 YEARS BEFORE THEY BECAME A CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE.

SO TO DO IT IN -- >> FOUR YEARS.

>> -- FOUR YEARS WOULD BE PRETTY GOOD.

I THINK THAT I CAN DO A LOT OF GOOD FOR AMERICA.

WE'VE GOT TO REDUCE GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

WE'VE GOT TO TAKE A STAND AND GET SPENDING UNDER CONTROL.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO.

>> WE'LL BE WATCHING.

2022 IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER FOR SURE.

CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, RENEE.

>> NEXT TIME ON CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE WE'RE ON LOCATION IN CARROLLTON, KENTUCKY TO SPEAK WITH U.S. REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSEY OF KENTUCKY'S 4th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 EASTERN, 5:30 CENTRAL FOR CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE.

OUR SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH MEMBERS OF KENTUCKY'S FEDERAL DELEGATION.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, AND GOOD NIGHT.