Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, refused to answer questions during a closed-door deposition with the US House Oversight Committee on Monday, invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Maxwell appeared virtually from a Texas prison, where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. Republican House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer said that “as expected”, Maxwell pleaded the Fifth Amendment and declined to testify, reports BBC.
“This is obviously very disappointing,” Comer said. “We had many questions to ask about the crimes she and Epstein committed, as well as questions about potential co-conspirators.” He added, “We sincerely want to get to the truth for the American people, and justice for the survivors, that’s what this investigation is about.”
The Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution allows individuals to refuse to answer questions under oath if doing so could lead to self-incrimination.
Democratic Representative Melanie Stansbury told reporters after the deposition that Maxwell used the hearing to “campaign for clemency”.
Comer said discussions with Epstein survivors made it clear “that Maxwell was a very bad person” and that she did not deserve any form of immunity.
Earlier, Maxwell’s lawyer David Oscar Markus said in a social media post that she was “prepared to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency by President Trump”. “Only she can provide the complete account. Some may not like what they hear, but the truth matters,” he added.
However, a group of Epstein survivors urged lawmakers in a letter to be sceptical of any information Maxwell might provide. They criticised her for refusing to identify “the many powerful men” involved in Epstein’s trafficking operation and for failing to “meaningfully cooperate” with law enforcement, warning that any “special treatment” or “credibility afforded to her testimony” would be catastrophic for survivors.
The White House has previously said “no leniency is being given or discussed” regarding Maxwell.
Maxwell was convicted in 2021 for her role in luring underage girls for Epstein, her former boyfriend, to exploit. Epstein died in prison in 2019. Maxwell is seeking a pardon from Trump and has been accused of lying to federal officials.
