[ad_1]
Washington — Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime affiliate of convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein, invoked her Fifth Modification proper in opposition to self-incrimination and refused to reply questions throughout a digital look earlier than the Home Oversight and Authorities Reform Committee on Monday, chairman James Comer stated.
“As anticipated, Ghislaine Maxwell took the Fifth and refused to reply any questions. This clearly could be very disappointing,” Comer instructed reporters after the deposition. “We had many inquiries to ask concerning the crimes she and Epstein dedicated, in addition to questions bout potential co-conspirators. We sincerely wish to get to the reality for the American folks and justice for survivors.”
Comer stated the committee has 5 extra depositions scheduled as a part of its investigation into Epstein. Amongst these set to testify are three members of Epstein’s interior circle: Les Wexner, who was one in every of his purchasers and a longtime benefactor; Richard Kahn, his accountant; and Darren Indyke, his lawyer, Comer stated.
“After months of defying our subpoena, Ghislaine Maxwell lastly appeared earlier than the Oversight Committee and stated nothing. She answered no questions and supplied no details about the lads who raped and trafficked ladies and ladies,” Rep. Robert Garcia, the highest Democrat on the committee, stated in a press release. “Who’s she defending? And we have to know why she’s been given particular remedy at a low safety jail by the Trump Administration. We’re going to finish this White Home cover-up.”
Rep. Andy Biggs, a Republican from Arizona, instructed reporters following the deposition that Maxwell’s lawyer stated she has no indication that both President Trump or former President Invoice Clinton are culpable for any wrongdoing.
However Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, a Democrat from Virginia, stated Maxwell’s supply to talk on the report to absolve Mr. Trump and Clinton are a part of an effort to drum up help from each events for clemency.
“That is all technique for her to attempt to get a pardon from President Trump, and she or he’s by no means proven any regret for the victims on this complete case,” he instructed reporters, including that Maxwell was “unrepentant” and “robotic” in her look earlier than lawmakers.
Maxwell was convicted of federal sex-trafficking costs in 2021 for her position in a scheme to sexually exploit and abuse minor ladies with Epstein. She is serving a 20-year jail sentence.
The Oversight Committee subpoenaed Maxwell for testimony in July 2025. Quickly after, David Markus, Maxwell’s lawyer, instructed Comer in a letter that she can be prepared to reply questions from the committee in the event that they granted her immunity or if she obtained clemency from Mr. Trump. With out these assurances, Markus stated Maxwell must invoke her Fifth Modification rights.
The shortage of solutions from Maxwell stands in distinction to an interview that she participated in with Deputy Lawyer Basic Todd Blanche in July. The interview spanned two days, and Maxwell answered questions on her relationship with Epstein and others in his orbit.
On the time, Maxwell had been serving her sentence at a low-security federal correctional establishment in Tallahassee, Florida. However shortly after assembly with Blanche, she was moved to a minimum-security federal jail camp in Bryan, Texas. No motive was given for Maxwell’s switch.
Prosecutors put Maxwell on the middle of Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring and stated that for roughly a decade, she helped him recruit, groom and abuse victims who have been beneath the age of 18. She exhibits up extensively in data launched by the Justice Division in latest months beneath the Epstein Recordsdata Transparency Act. The legislation, handed by Congress and signed by Mr. Trump in November, required the Justice Division to make public all of its materials associated to its investigations into Epstein and Maxwell.
As a part of its personal probe of Epstein’s case, the Oversight Committee has demanded paperwork from the Justice Division and Epstein’s property. It additionally issued subpoenas to a slew of former attorneys common and FBI administrators, in addition to Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Whereas the Clintons initially rebuffed the calls for for his or her testimony, calling the subpoenas “invalid and legally unenforceable,” they agreed to look for depositions later this month after dealing with a contempt of Congress vote.
[ad_2]
