Washington, DC – Convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell refused to answer questions from US lawmakers on Monday, invoking her Fifth Amendment right to silence during a deposition before the House Oversight Committee.
Maxwell, 64, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking. She was subpoenaed to testify about her relationship with Epstein and his network of associates but declined to respond to questions, including whether Epstein and Maxwell surrounded themselves with the rich and powerful to avoid scrutiny, and whether former President Donald Trump was ever introduced to individuals by Epstein or Maxwell.
A recording released by the committee showed Maxwell appearing via video link from a Texas prison, dressed in a beige uniform, repeatedly stating:
“I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence.”
Attorney Floats Clemency Deal
Maxwell’s attorney, David Markus, said she would be willing to speak publicly if granted presidential clemency by Trump.
“If this Committee and the American public truly want to hear the unfiltered truth about what happened, there is a straightforward path,” Markus said, adding that both Trump and former President Bill Clinton were “innocent of any wrongdoing.”
Maxwell is the only person convicted in connection with Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking. She was convicted in 2021 of supplying underage girls to Epstein, whose connections spanned business executives, politicians, celebrities, and academics.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act
Her deposition comes amid the release of millions of documents related to the government’s investigation into Epstein under the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), passed by Congress in November.
The law requires the Justice Department to release all records related to Epstein, with victims’ identities redacted but prohibiting redactions based on embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.
Members of Congress were given access to unredacted files Monday under strict conditions. Representative Jamie Raskin (D) said he saw names of “enablers and cooperators” redacted for unclear reasons. Representative Thomas Massie (R) claimed to have identified six men whose names were withheld, including one “pretty high up in a foreign government.”
Massie also posted on X about a 2009 email exchange between Epstein and a redacted sender discussing a “torture video,” which he said appeared to involve a Sultan. He later told CNN that billionaire Les Wexner, founder of Victoria’s Secret, was listed as a “co-conspirator” in a 2019 child sex trafficking case.
High-Profile Testimonies Ahead
The House Oversight Committee has also summoned Bill and Hillary Clinton to testify about their interactions with Epstein. The Clintons have requested their depositions be held publicly to avoid politicization.
Trump, once a close friend of Epstein, has not been called to testify by the Republican-controlled committee.
Conclusion
Maxwell’s refusal to answer questions underscores the challenges Congress faces in uncovering the full scope of Epstein’s network. With the release of the Epstein Files and high-profile testimonies looming, the case continues to reverberate across politics, business, and society.
