Ghislaine Maxwell Invokes 5th Amendment in House Committee Questioning

WASHINGTON — On Monday, House lawmakers attempted to question Ghislaine Maxwell, former associate of Jeffrey Epstein, but she invoked her Fifth Amendment rights to refrain from providing potentially self-incriminating responses.

Maxwell had been scheduled for an interrogation by the House Oversight Committee via a video link to the Texas federal prison camp where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. Her role has gained renewed attention as legislators endeavor to uncover how Epstein, a financier with extensive connections, managed to exploit underage girls over an extended period.

As the global response to Epstein’s abuses continues to unfold, lawmakers are keen to identify anyone who might have aided in his illicit activities. On Monday, in addition to questioning Maxwell, they planned to review the complete, unredacted files on Epstein, which have been released by the Department of Justice in accordance with a law enacted by Congress last year.

Maxwell is actively pursuing an overturn of her conviction, claiming she was unjustly found guilty. Although the Supreme Court dismissed her appeal last year, she has recently requested that a federal judge in New York evaluate what her legal team describes as “significant new evidence” suggesting her trial was compromised by constitutional breaches.

Maxwell’s attorney noted this appeal, further stating she is willing to testify that neither President Donald Trump nor former President Bill Clinton engaged in any misconduct in their interactions with Epstein, as confirmed by both Democratic and Republican lawmakers after emerging from the private session.

Democrats argued that Maxwell’s assertion was an appeal to Trump to end her prison sentence.

“It’s very clear she’s campaigning for clemency,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury, a New Mexico Democrat.

Another Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, described Maxwell’s demeanor during the short video call as “robotic” and “unrepentant.”

The Republican chair of the committee, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, said it was “very disappointing” that Maxwell declined to participate in the deposition.

Comer had subpoenaed her last year, but her attorneys have consistently told the committee that she won’t answer questions. However, Comer came under pressure to hold the deposition as he pressed for the committee to enforce subpoenas on Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. After Comer threatened them with contempt of Congress charges, they both agreed to sit for depositions later this month.

Comer has been haggling with the Clintons over whether that testimony should be held in a public hearing, but Comer reiterated Monday that he would insist on holding closed-door depositions and later releasing transcripts and video.