WASHINGTON — On Monday, House lawmakers sought to question Ghislaine Maxwell, but she invoked her Fifth Amendment rights, opting not to answer questions that could potentially incriminate her.
Maxwell was scheduled for questioning via a video call by the House Oversight Committee from the federal prison camp in Texas, where she is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. Her involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, a financier who infamously abused underage girls, has placed her under intensified scrutiny from lawmakers.
As Epstein’s allegations continue to echo internationally, legislators are eager to uncover any individuals linked to him who may have played a role in facilitating his crimes. On Monday, several members also planned to review unredacted documents released by the Department of Justice, in accordance with legislation enacted by Congress last year.
Maxwell is actively pursuing a reversal of her conviction, maintaining that her trial was unjust. Although the Supreme Court dismissed her appeal last year, she has recently petitioned a federal judge in New York to consider what her legal team claims is “substantial new evidence” indicating constitutional violations during her trial.
Her attorney mentioned this petition while also informing lawmakers that Maxwell would be willing to testify, asserting that neither President Donald Trump nor former President Bill Clinton engaged in any wrongdoing in their associations with Epstein, according to bipartisan representatives who attended the closed session.
Democratic lawmakers suggested that Maxwell’s offer was a strategic plea to Trump, hoping for a commutation of her 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.
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