Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein, declined to answer questions from U.S. lawmakers on Monday, citing her Fifth Amendment rights to avoid self-incrimination. Her attorney stated she would be willing to speak publicly if she were granted clemency by President Donald Trump. Maxwell, 64, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking. She was subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee to discuss her relationship with Epstein but chose to invoke her constitutional right instead of answering their questions. A video recording of her deposition revealed her sitting inside a Texas prison, refusing to speak on matters related to Epstein’s co-conspirators, their social circles, and any potential involvement of President Trump in sexual activities facilitated by her or Epstein. Dressed in a plain beige uniform, Maxwell repeatedly stated, “I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence,” leading the committee to end the questioning prematurely.
Her lawyer, David Markus, emphasized that Maxwell was prepared to speak publicly if clemency was granted, suggesting that both former President Bill Clinton and Trump, both of whom had associations with Epstein, are innocent of wrongdoing and that Maxwell could provide explanations. Maxwell is the sole individual convicted in relation to Epstein’s crimes; Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Her conviction in 2021 involved her role in supplying underage girls to Epstein, who maintained ties with influential business leaders, politicians, celebrities, and academics. This deposition occurs amid the Justice Department’s recent release of millions of documents on Epstein’s case, many heavily redacted, following the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), which mandated full disclosure of all related government records, except for personal details of victims.
Members of Congress gained access to the unredacted files on Monday, but only through secure, in-person visits. Democrat Jamie Raskin remarked that he saw many redacted names of individuals whom he believed to be enablers or collaborators. The Justice Department has indicated no new prosecutions are anticipated. Republican Thomas Massie disclosed that he identified six individuals whose names had been redacted but who likely face incrimination, including one possibly linked to a foreign government. Massie also shared a disturbing email from 2009, discussing a “torture video,” and revealed that billionaire Les Wexner, known for Victoria’s Secret, was listed as a co-conspirator in a child sex trafficking case from 2019, with his name previously redacted.
The House Oversight Committee has invited Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton to testify about their contacts with Epstein—requests they want to make public to prevent political misuse. Although Trump was once close friends with Epstein, he has not been called to testify by the committee.
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