Return to Transcripts main page

The Situation Room

Ghislaine Maxwell Pleads 5th at Congressional Deposition; Search for Nancy Guthrie; Guthrie Ransom note Demands $6M. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired February 09, 2026 - 10:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[10:30:00]

REP. JAMES COMER (R-KY), CHAIRMAN, OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE: Correct me if I'm wrong, what do -- just to be clear, what do -- what her attorney said, Maxwell didn't say, her attorney said that she would answer questions if she were granted clemency by the president, and that she went on to say about Clinton and --

REP. ANDY BIGGS (R-AZ): Yes, but he went on to expand that. The other thing is he pointed out a number of times that she has a habeas corpus petition pending for a new trial and release, and that's why she is not going to answer questions.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know that those conversations are ongoing. They would like them to be public. Is your understanding still that we're looking at those same February dates, and they're going to be private?

COMER: Yes, that's what they agreed to, and they will be public, just like this will be public hopefully very soon. We've released every transcript and every video and audio of every deposition we've done since I've been chairman of the committee.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Chairman, does the committee have any plans to subpoena Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick given the revelations --

COMER: We're going to try to get these five nailed down. We've got a lot of very important people we're trying to bring in to answer questions. We don't want to do anything to jeopardize the five that we have on the book. So, we'll see what happens here, and we'll move forward. We're interested in talking to anyone that might have any information that would help us get justice for the survivors. Yes, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you. On the disagreement with the Clintons about closed-door videotape testimony versus public hearing, are you concerned that this will be enough to restart contempt proceedings, or do you think you'll come to a resolution?

COMER: I mean, they said they would -- they agreed to a standard deposition. That's what a standard deposition is. Every time I've come out here for a press gaggle with you all, we've had a standard deposition. So, this is how depositions work, and it will be made public. So, they want a public deposition. This is what -- UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Chairman, can I ask you about Ilhan Omar for a

moment?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can I ask you a question about Ghislaine Maxwell?

COMER: Chad, Chad.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you. Your investigation about Ilhan Omar. Why are you targeting her when there is a --

COMER: Who?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ilhan Omar, your committee investigation with Ilhan Omar, when there is a process in the House, and people have questions about their conduct, this will go through the Ethics Committee. Why is this under the --

COMER: Yes, the Ethics -- and I've spoken -- I'm glad you asked that question. I've spoken with the Ethics Committee. The Ethics Committee has jurisdiction over members of Congress. The two businesses in question are owned by Ms. Omar's husband. So, the Ethics Committee does not have jurisdiction over a spouse, only a member. So, that's why we just asked -- we would have questions. I don't think anyone would --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it would pertain to her overall finances, because that is listed on her financial disclosure report even though --

COMER: Well, I've already -- we've run this by the Ethics Committee, and we think this is the appropriate route. So -- and we'll do one more question. Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, just going back to the Clinton deposition. Sorry for the space. I understand that you're going to release the transcripts. You'll release the video.

COMER: Of course.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why is there reticence to just have it be public? Since the Clintons -- look, they are not your typical people being deposed.

COMER: When you say public, what do you mean? I mean, it's going to be the video, and we'll release it. The public will see every second of the deposition. That's -- I think they're trying to muddy the -- what's that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But not at the time that it happened. So, what's the --

COMER: Well, a few seconds later? I mean, it's -- I think the Clintons are trying to muddy the waters and create a false narrative about depositions behind closed doors. That deposition was behind closed doors, but you had at least 10 members of Congress in there, and you'll have the video, I hope, very soon. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can I ask you one more question?

COMER: Yes. Go ahead. All right.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ghislaine Maxwell, we know from the Epstein files, didn't tell the truth. She got moved to an open prison. Now, she's asking for clemency to speak at all. Was it a mistake to move her to that prison? Should she be moved back?

COMER: I don't know the rationale for moving her from one prison to the other. But look, initially, she had asked that the Oversight Committee grant immunity. And when we met with the survivors of Epstein, it was pretty clear, according to the survivors, and we had 20-some members in that meeting, that Maxwell was a very bad person, and she committed a lot of crimes.

And it was the intent, in my opinion, when we left that meeting in a bipartisan manner, that we would not grant immunity. Now, what she said today, she's asked for clemency from the president. So, I personally, for the reasons you just stated, don't think she should be granted any type of immunity or clemency. But we'll obviously -- you know, as more documents are read and understood, then we'll go from there.

[10:35:00]

But I'll close with this. I think it's great that the Department of Justice has let members of Congress come in and look at all the unredacted versions of the documents. Attorney General Bondi is doing what she was supposed to do via our subpoena first on the House Oversight Committee, as well as the Epstein Transparency Act. So, I think we're finally going to get some answers. And hopefully, at the end of the day, we can do what our objective is in this hearing, provide justice for the survivors. So, thank you, everybody.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: All right. So, there you have the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, James Comer, explaining what's going on right now, Ghislaine Maxwell, pleading the fifth, refusing to answer questions before his committee.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: That's right. And he also -- there was also mention of what the attorney for Ghislaine Maxwell said at the very beginning, saying that neither Presidents Trump or Clinton are culpable for any wrongdoing. So, that's from Ghislaine's attorney, but Ghislaine herself pleading the fifth.

And he was asked about the fact that Ghislaine Maxwell was moved by this administration to a minimum-security prison. And of course, she's asking for clemency from President Trump to speak to the committee. And you heard there the chairman Comer say, I don't understand the rationale for moving her. But of course, he didn't weigh in on whether that was the right move or not.

So, that is -- what we just heard there was important. And we're also expecting more testimony, depositions, five witnesses or people who will be going before the committee, including the Clintons in the coming weeks. So --

BLITZER: Hillary Clinton first, then Bill Clinton.

BROWN: Yes, that's right.

BLITZER: They'll both be coming before the House Oversight Committee. And the chairman making this point, he said, we have many questions for these individuals who have been subpoenaed to come forward. And our goal is justice for the survivors. That was his point. He kept making that point.

BROWN: And the survivors still feel like justice has not been served as members of Congress are now going over to DOJ to look at those unredacted files that were released publicly. So, we hope to learn more about that.

Just ahead here in the Situation Room, nine days and counting, investigators are working against the clock to find Nancy Guthrie. We'll speak to a retired FBI special agent on the messages from her family to potential suspects.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:40:00]

BROWN: Happening now, the family of Nancy Guthrie begins a second agonizing week as a deadline bears down today. 5:00 p.m. The purported ransom note demands $6 million in bitcoin. And if the deadline is not met, the life of the 84-year-old will be threatened, according to the note. That's according to CNN affiliate KGUN.

Over the weekend, her children Camron, Savannah, and Annie released a new emotional plea promising to pay the ransom.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, NANCY GUTHRIE'S DAUGHTER: We received your message and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us and we will pay.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Joining us now is James Gagliano, a retired FBI supervisory special agent. Hi there. So, this second message from the Guthrie family, it's different in tone and message from the first. What stands out to you?

JAMES GAGLIANO, RETIRED FBI SUPERVISORY SPECIAL AGENT: Pam, this case continues to defy gravity. You know, whether you're an online sleuth or the folks working this investigation, it doesn't match the normal processes and protocols. Now, why is that? Well, the language that was used there, it's coached language. Obviously, the kidnappers or the abductors, if this is a real exchange of information between the people that have her or somebody that an opportunist trying to take advantage of this, they're using precise language, return her versus release her, as well as we want to celebrate her. They're trying to humanize her. And they're also trying to convince if these abductors have her that they want to -- they won't be able to have peace until she's back.

Look, and I'll wrap this up quickly. I've surmised the Catalina Hills are about 60 miles north of the Mexico border. I served for two years as the FBI's acting legal attache south of the border. I know that area well. So, it's about 60 miles from Nogales, which is a big city down there where we had many kidnappings of American citizens. The language that's used in the letter is very confusing and sounds like somebody from an international angle is doing it. No one uses USD to describe United States dollars in the United States.

In Mexico, you do. And when you're dealing with kidnappers, you deal in USD, U.S. dollars versus MXP or Mexican pesos. So, Pam, this is all becoming more confusing. And it's just heart wrenching to see the family put in the position that they're in right now.

BROWN: I just -- I can't stop thinking about them and how agonizing this is. Every day that goes by. I mean, there's nothing like a love for a mother, right? And to just have them be out there and not have any certainty or clarity about what's going on with their mother, it's just awful. And per the apparent ransom note, which again, hasn't been fully verified, the alleged apparent abductors are asking for Bitcoin. Is there any way to trace through Bitcoin? I mean, what -- can that help investigators in any way?

[10:45:00]

GAGLIANO: Yes, you can. And I'm certainly not an expert in cryptocurrency, but I know that the folks that work at the FBI, they do have teams that are versed in this and can do this. And look, here's where modernity and technology have changed the kidnapping game.

Go back to 1932, the Lindbergh baby kidnapping. 1963, another celebrity, Frank Sinatra Jr. Even to 1974 and Patty Hearst. In those cases, you could always discern was this for profit or was this for revenge, or as in the case of Patty Hearst, was there an ideological bent, a message they were trying to get out? Here, it defies gravity.

And here's the thing, we cannot tell the family and the FBI to pay the ransom or not. We cannot tell them what to do, what not to do. We can simply advise from a capacity of we have best practices. We've seen these cases before. But, Pam, even if the family decides and it's a gut-wrenching decision to pony up up to $6 million right now, that's not going to be dispositive of solving this case. There's just too many question marks here whether or not the their actual kidnapping here and the people that are that are communicating with the family through the media, through TMZ and through local affiliates, whether or not they're actually the real deal or not.

BROWN: And there is apparently, at this point, no proof of life. But the family says that they'll pay anyway. Is that unusual? GAGLIANO: Yes, exceedingly unusual, which obviously lends to the, you know, potential lack of credibility that these folks actually have. Now, here's another interesting thing. In typical kidnappings where multiple deadlines are laid out, the ones that I saw south of the border, the ones I've seen in the United States, when you give multiple deadlines, there's generally a negative consequence that comes with not meeting the first one or the second one.

I feel, and this is my estimation, reading the tea leaves from my position, again, I'm not connected to the investigation, I think the, quote/unquote, "kidnappers" are trying to extract whatever money they can through cryptocurrency so they can disappear. They're probably using a proxy server. They're using VPN over their IP address to mask it. They're doing it through this cloak of anonymity. And I think at this juncture, they're trying to get something from the family, whatever it is.

BROWN: And the first plea from the Guthrie family, it stressed the urgency of releasing her, their 84-year-old mother, as we know, has serious health issues, desperately needs her medications. We're now in day nine of her presumably not having those meds. There was no mention of that in this new video. What did you make of that?

GAGLIANO: Yes. Well, you mentioned it. So, we have an octogenarian, a woman who's 84 years old. She obviously has heart conditions, needs medications. And, Pam, I'll give you a stat here. Do you know the percentage of kidnappings that occur of 80-year-olds? It's like infinitesimal. It's like less than one half of 1 percent. That's why this case again is so baffling and confounding.

BROWN: And are you convinced it's a kidnapping?

GAGLIANO: Am I convinced that this was an actual kidnapping? No.

BROWN: Like an abduction, like they took her? OK.

GAGLIANO: I'll give you this --

BROWN: Go ahead.

GAGLIANO: Yes. And I'll tell you this, there are numbers of ways to conduct kidnappings, right? There's a new craze of this. And again, we saw this south of the border when I was stationed there called virtual kidnappings, where they do everything they can to make you believe that they have your loved one in their, quote/unquote, "possession" when they don't. And they're acting quickly. They're utilizing A.I. now, artificial intelligence to help, you know, cause this fog of vagaries so that the families are panicked and do what they need to do.

It's just there's so many questions here. And the fact that the kidnappers, if this was a kidnapping, had a 14-hour head start from the time she was dropped off at home, supposedly at 10:00 until the family notified law enforcement sometime around noon the next day. And you see the flurry of law enforcement efforts back and forth. I don't think there's anything to be taken from that. People are reading too much into that. That's the normal progression in an investigation where one lead might trick off another league and you move from one thing to the other.

And lastly, two things are going to solve this case. One is good detective work. That's flatfoot work, knocking on doors, talking to people, canvassing, interviewing people. And the second piece of this and the biggest one is the digital imagery, the digital exhaust that investigators are going through right now from the kidnappers, quote/unquote, "kidnappers ransom note" from the door ring bell that was removed. But they might still be able to harvest some forensic evidence there. Things like that are probably going to solve this case. And we all hope and pray it's going to have a good conclusion.

[10:50:00]

BROWN: We do. We certainly do. James Gagliano, thank you so much. And if anyone has any information that could help investigators, please call the numbers on your screen. The FBI tip line is 1-800-CALL-FBI in the Pima County Sheriff's Department at 520-351-4900. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Happening now, we're waiting to hear from the Seattle Seahawks coach, Mike McDonald and Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III, who are expected to speak within the hour. We'll have coverage of that. And you can see their fans in Seattle celebrated overnight, big time after the Seahawks dominant Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots.

[10:55:00]

Let's go live right now to see that sports anchor, Andy Scholes, who's in San Francisco for us. Andy, that was quite a defensive performance of -- performance for the ages, I should say by Seattle.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, well, if you know, I would give the Super Bowl LX a grade of a D, but that D is for dominant defense, because that's what we saw from the Seahawks all night long. I mean, they were just hounding Drake Maye. He couldn't get anything going. And that defense pitching a shutout through three quarters. They sacked Maye six times. For a while it looked like Seahawks kicker Jason Myers was going to be the only one putting up points. He made a Super Bowl record five field goals and we had a huge play at the end of the third quarter. Derick Hall sacking Maye forces the fumble. Seahawks would recover.

And we'd finally get a touchdown in Super Bowl LX in that fourth quarter. Darnold to AJ Barner for the score. That made it 19 to nothing. Might as well have been 100-0 the way that Seahawks defense was playing. Uchenna Nwosu put an exclamation point on this one late in the fourth returning an interception for a touchdown.

Seattle would end up winning 29-13 in Super Bowl LX. Wasn't really even that close. Running back Kenneth Walker, he was the game's MVP. He rushed for 135 yards. And for Sam Darnold, he completes just one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history with this win. You know, he was once considered a bust but he never gave up. He just kept grinding. The Seahawks, the fifth team he's on and now he's a Super Bowl champion. I call it that special moment here with Darnold on his family on the field as he completed his epic comeback journey and he said it was his family that always got him through all of it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAM DARNOLD, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS QUARTERBACK: I'm here because of their belief in me and they believed in me throughout my entire career and I think that's why I was able to believe in myself almost ad nauseum. Like I -- some people called me called me crazy throughout my career for believing in myself so much and having so much confidence but you know they it was because of my parents because of the way that they believed in me throughout my entire career and it allowed me to go out there and play free and have a ton of confidence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Now, Seahawks head coach Mike McDonald is the one who painted that just defensive masterpiece in Super Bowl LX and guys McDonald he's only 38 years old he's the third youngest coach to ever win the Super Bowl and he got it done in just his second season there in Seattle so we may be just seeing the beginning of a dynasty with these Seahawks.

BROWN: I just love what he said about his parents instilling confidence in him.

BLITZER: It's so nice.

BROWN: That is so beautiful and a message for every parent, right, what that can do for your child.

BLITZER: Yes. And Drake Maye, the quarterback, for the New England Patriots had a picture 10 years ago when he was 13 years old, he's only 23 years old now, of him and his dad at the Super Bowl. I mean, it was so nice to have the family involved really both teams.

BROWN: Really sweet.

BLITZER: Yes.

BROWN: Very, very sweet. All right. Andy, thanks so much. We appreciate it.

SCHOLES: All right.

BLITZER: And coming up, historic halftime show. More than -- we'll have a lot more on Bad Bunny's truly electrifying performance. His message of unity and how he's spreading Puerto Rican culture worldwide.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:00:00]