Maxwell Won’t Answer Questions During Congressional Testimony, Lawyer Says

Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, intends to invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during questioning by the U.S. House Oversight Committee, according to her legal counsel. The decision signals a significant shift in Maxwell’s approach to congressional inquiries, particularly given her prior cooperation with federal officials on related matters. Maxwell is slated to appear virtually for a closed-door deposition from the Texas correctional facility where she is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking offenses.

David Oscar Markus, Maxwell’s lawyer, confirmed to the BBC on Sunday that his client "will take the 5th," referencing the constitutional protection against compelled self-incrimination. This stance contrasts with her previous interactions with federal investigators. Instead of responding to direct questions, Maxwell is expected to deliver a prepared statement at the commencement of the deposition, as indicated by Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, a member of the Oversight Committee.

Maxwell was found guilty in 2021 for her pivotal role in luring underage girls for her former boyfriend, Jeffrey Epstein, to sexually exploit. Epstein himself died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial. Maxwell’s legal troubles have continued, as she is reportedly seeking a pardon from former President Donald Trump and has faced accusations of providing false information to federal officials.

In a letter addressed to the Republican chairman of the Oversight Committee, James Comer, Representative Khanna outlined his intention to question Maxwell about a court document she filed the previous year. This document reportedly identified "four named co-conspirators" and an additional 25 individuals who were not indicted as part of the extensive Epstein investigation. Khanna also stated his intent to probe Maxwell about her and Epstein’s "social relationship" with Donald Trump, and crucially, whether Trump ever discussed a potential pardon for Maxwell with her defense team.

Donald Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, asserting that he severed contact with the financier decades ago. To date, Trump has not been accused of any crimes by Epstein’s victims. Representative Khanna expressed that Maxwell’s current decision to refuse answering questions from the Oversight Committee "appears inconsistent with Ms Maxwell’s prior conduct, as she did not invoke the Fifth Amendment when she previously met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to discuss substantially similar subject matter."

A transcript of a meeting between Maxwell and Todd Blanche, who previously served as Donald Trump’s personal attorney, released in July, revealed that Maxwell stated she did not witness any inappropriate conduct by either Donald Trump or former U.S. President Bill Clinton. She also reportedly asserted that a rumored Epstein "client list" does not exist. This prior testimony suggests a willingness to engage on topics that are now central to the Oversight Committee’s inquiry.

The deposition scheduled for Monday was initially slated for August of the previous year but was postponed by Chairman Comer. The delay was reportedly at the request of Maxwell’s legal team, who sought to await a ruling from the Supreme Court concerning her case. This timing is particularly significant as it coincides with the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent release of millions of pages of new documents stemming from its investigation into the disgraced financier. This extensive disclosure was mandated by a law compelling their unveiling, which was passed by Congress in the preceding year.

Members of Congress will be granted access to view the unredacted versions of these nearly three million pages in person at the Department of Justice, beginning on Monday, as reported by CBS, the BBC’s U.S. news partner. This release aims to provide greater transparency into the complex web of Epstein’s alleged criminal enterprise.

In parallel to these developments, a group of Epstein survivors released a video on Sunday, urging for increased transparency regarding redactions within the released documents and for the full disclosure of certain files that remain withheld. This plea underscores the ongoing demand for accountability and full revelation of information related to Epstein’s activities and his network.

Todd Blanche, in response to accusations of a cover-up, has previously rejected such claims. He has stated that the notion of a "hidden tranche of information of men that we know about" that the Justice Department is deliberately choosing not to prosecute is unfounded. His remarks aim to assure the public that the investigation and subsequent disclosures are being conducted with a commitment to thoroughness and impartiality, despite the ongoing scrutiny and public demand for more information. The decision by Maxwell to invoke her Fifth Amendment rights, juxtaposed with her previous willingness to speak with federal officials, adds another layer of complexity to the unfolding narrative surrounding the Epstein investigation and the individuals connected to it. The Oversight Committee’s deposition, even with Maxwell’s limited participation, is expected to shed further light on the scope of Epstein’s operations and the alleged involvement of various prominent figures.