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ROUNDUP: ‘Investigate Comer’ Banner Makes Waves At Kentucky Derby

May 8, 2023

Over the weekend, Congressional Integrity Project flew a banner over the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs with one message: investigate James Comer. Comer was so clearly bothered by our banner that he took time out of his weekend to send seven tweets—but managed to miss the entire subject of our message. The banner encouraged Comer’s constituents to read about our letter to the Fayette Commonwealth Attorney’s Office asking for an investigation into Comer’s 2015 involvement in obtaining and distributing leaked emails. Comer wasn’t the only one who noticed our call to investigate his losing campaign for governor in 2015 (even though he missed the main point). See who else tuned in:

James Comer, House Oversight Committee chair:

  1. “Nothing spells “INTIMIDATION” more than Biden’s dark money PAC paying a plane to fly over #KentuckyDerby to attack me for simply investigating public corruption” [Twitter, 5/6/23]
  2. “This desperate political stunt by the Bidens is helping me so much politically in Kentucky today, I wonder if I will be required to list it as an in-kind donation from China on my next campaign finance report?” [Twitter, 5/6/23]
  3. “I will continue to present the facts to the American people. There is no place for public corruption in the USA, an NO FAMILY IS ABOVE THE LAW” [Twitter, 5/6/23]
  4. “We on @GOPoversight will hold any politician, any government official, any corrupt attorney, or any Biden accountable for both public corruption and intimidating whistleblowers” [Twitter, 5/6/23]
  5. “May God continue to Bless the United States of America” [Twitter, 5/6/23]
  6. “TJ and I would chose watching Harlan play baseball over attending the Kentucky Derby 🐎 every single time. We were at Mercer County today and they have the nicest high school ⚾️ field I’ve seen.” [Twitter, 5/6/23]

 

TWEETS

Ron Filipkowski, former Republican prosecutor: “The Hunter Biden-obsessed Chair of Oversight Committee is griping about the banner flying about the Kentucky Derby calling for him to be investigated.” [Twitter, 5/7/23

Tom Eblen, Kentucky journalist: “If you wondered about the banner being flown over the Kentucky Derby yesterday that had conspiracy monger James Comer so agitated, here’s what it linked to: https://t.co/IQfiSm17S8.” [Twitter, 5/7/23]

Kurt Bardella, former Republican congressional staffer: “That’s @usintegrityorg  living rent free in @JamesComer’s head …” [Twitter, 5/7/23]

Tessa Duvall, Lexington Herald-Leader reporter: “The Congressional Integrity Project is taking credit for the plane: https://t.co/EYnmDzJnqA […] Here’s video of that plane, which is circling Churchill downs right now” [Twitter, 5/6/23]

Mica Soellner, Punchbowl News reporter: “This is a @usintegrityorg launch of negative ads on Comer’s congressional investigations.” [Twitter, 5/6/23]

 

STORIES

Lexington Herald-Leader: Kentucky Derby 2023: Political Messages Take To The Skies Over Churchill Downs. “In the hours before the big race, a plane carrying a banner that read “InvestigateComer.com” circled the area, which prompted backlash from the Kentucky Republican. “1) Nothing spells “INTIMIDATION” more than Biden’s dark money PAC paying a plane to fly over #KentuckyDerby to attack me for simply investigating public corruption,” U.S. Rep. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, tweeted. “2) This desperate political stunt by the Bidens is helping me (praying hands emoji) so much politically in Kentucky today, I wonder if I will be required to list it as an in-kind donation from China on my next campaign finance report?” The website in question redirects to a news article about a group, the Congressional Integrity Project, urging an investigation into Comer’s potential involvement in leaking emails during the 2015 Kentucky governor’s race. The demand for an investigation followed a New York Times article in which Comer admits to leaking emails to the Herald-Leader and “strongly hinted he had gotten them from the server,” the Times reported in March. A group called the Congressional Integrity Project took credit for the banner.” [Lexington Herald-Leader, 5/6/23]

Washington Examiner: Comer Shrugs Off Attack By Democratic-Aligned Group Flying Banner Over Kentucky Derby. “The banner, which flew over Churchill Downs as thousands of people gathered to watch the annual horse race, simply displayed a website URL: investigatecomer.com. The website directs users to an article in the Louisville Courier-Journal reporting on a letter requesting an investigation into the Republican leader for his actions while running for governor in 2015. During that campaign, Comer allegedly obtained and distributed leaked emails to intimidate a former girlfriend as well as his political opponent, prompting an outcry from critics who say he must be investigated for his possible involvement. The allegations stem from a profile piece on the congressman in the New York Times in March that detailed the scheme.” [Washington Examiner, 5/6/23]