This screen capture dated February 9, 2026 provided by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform shows the deposition of Ghislaine Maxwell on the Jeffrey Epstein probe. (AFP)
Ghislaine Maxwell pleads Fifth in congressional deposition on Epstein case
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Ghislaine Maxwell invoked her Fifth Amendment right and refused to answer questions in a closed-door House Oversight Committee deposition on her role in Epstein’s crimes.
- Her lawyer stated she would testify fully if granted clemency by former President Trump, claiming she could clarify allegations involving prominent figures.
Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, declined to answer any questions during a closed‑door virtual deposition before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Monday, invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self‑incrimination, lawmakers said.
Read more: Ex-Epstein associate Maxwell appears in closed-door Congressional hearing
Maxwell, who is serving a 20‑year federal prison sentence for her role in Epstein’s sex‑trafficking operation, repeatedly asserted her constitutional right not to speak when asked about her involvement in Epstein’s crimes and whether she could identify co‑conspirators or provide information about the broader network.
Fifth Amendment invoked, no answers given
During the brief virtual session from a federal prison camp in Texas, Maxwell declined to respond to legislators’ questions, instead stating she was invoking her right to silence on legal advice.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R‑Ky.) said that despite months of effort to secure Maxwell’s testimony, she “said nothing” in response to the panel’s inquiries, frustrating lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who are seeking clarity about Epstein’s years‑long abuses and connections to powerful figures.
Ranking member Rep. Robert Garcia (D‑Calif.) echoed that sentiment, saying Maxwell “answered no questions and provided no information about the men who raped and trafficked women and girls.”
Offer to testify if granted clemency
Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, delivered a prepared statement during the deposition indicating that his client would be willing to “speak fully and honestly” if granted clemency by former President Donald Trump, a proposal that drew sharp criticism from lawmakers.
In the statement, Markus also asserted that Maxwell could clarify allegations involving notable figures, claiming both Trump and former President Bill Clinton are “innocent of any wrongdoing,” and that only Maxwell could explain why.
Broader investigation and political tensions
The deposition was part of a broader Oversight Committee investigation into Epstein’s crimes and the federal government’s handling of related evidence.
The panel has also secured access to unredacted Justice Department documents as part of efforts to understand how Epstein’s network operated and which individuals may have been involved.
Lawmakers have expressed frustration that the deposition yielded no substantive testimony and said they plan to continue pursuing other witnesses and evidence in the Epstein probe.
What’s next
With Maxwell’s silence in Congress and a pending petition in federal court seeking to overturn or reduce her sentence, the Oversight Committee faces renewed pressure to uncover additional testimony and documentation in the Epstein case.
