GOP lawmakers put on notice to 'be careful what they wish for' as Epstein reckoning begins

CNN host Michael Smerconish had a warning Friday for Republicans focusing on Democrats and their ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

Smerconish revealed that the House Oversight Committee's GOP lawmakers should remember that once the midterms hit and if Republicans lose majority power — which polls have indicated they could — then they should be ready for Democrats to change the direction of the investigation with a deeper look into the late financier and convicted child sex offender's ties to conservative leaders and public figures. He also raised concerns over forcing the Clintons to testify behind closed doors and the ramifications of the move.

"I think that we're in a realm of a very careful balancing now where people's reputations are being tarnished because of association and not necessarily based on conduct," Smerconish said during a conversation with anchor Wolf Blitzer.

"Candidly, I think it was ridiculous that Secretary Clinton was hauled before the Oversight Committee yesterday, less so, relative to President Bill Clinton. But I thought that that was an excess," Smerconish said. "And Republicans better be careful what they wish for here, because if there's a change in the guard in the midterms, as the polls suggest there will be, that subpoena power is now going to be in the hands of Democrats. And I think there's there's going to be a response that will be in kind."

Smerconish suggested that Republicans targeting the Clintons in the Epstein probe could now have to request that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testify.

"That is the precedent that has just been set," Smerconish said. "I mean, how can you justify bringing the Clintons before this committee yesterday and today and not respond in kind for Republicans who are similarly represented in the Epstein files? I think fairness demands that. And by the way, I don't think it was a good precedent to set for the reasons that I've already stated. But now that that door has been opened, I think it would be hypocritical to say, well, it will only be the Clintons that we call before the committee."