Ghislaine Maxwell Invokes Fifth Amendment Before House Committee, Links Testimony to Clemency
In a highly anticipated deposition before the House Oversight Committee on Monday, Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, declined to answer any questions. The 64-year-old, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence at a federal prison camp in Texas, invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Lawyer Outlines Conditional Offer for Full Testimony
Instead of providing testimony, Maxwell's attorney, David Oscar Markus, presented a statement to the committee. He explained that Maxwell was acting on legal advice to remain silent due to a pending habeas corpus petition challenging her 2021 conviction for sex trafficking. Markus argued the conviction was based on a "fundamentally unfair trial," citing allegations that jurors lied during selection and that the government broke immunity promises.
Markus made a striking proposition to the committee: "If this Committee and the American public truly want to hear the unfiltered truth about what happened, there is a straightforward path. Ms. Maxwell is prepared to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency by President Trump."
Claims of Innocence for High-Profile Figures
The lawyer's statement contained specific claims about what Maxwell would testify to if clemency were granted. "For example, both President Trump and President Clinton are innocent of any wrongdoing," Markus asserted. "Ms. Maxwell alone can explain why, and the public is entitled to that explanation."
This conditional offer for testimony comes as lawmakers intensify their scrutiny of Epstein's extensive network, following the recent release of millions of Justice Department documents related to the case.
Committee Reaction and Political Divide
Committee Chairman James Comer expressed clear disappointment with Maxwell's refusal to testify. "It's obviously very disappointing," Comer stated, noting that lawmakers had prepared questions about "the crimes she and Epstein committed as well as questions about potential co-conspirators."
The clemency appeal sparked immediate criticism along partisan lines. Democratic Representative Melanie Stansbury commented, "It's very clear she's campaigning for clemency," while Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna responded unequivocally: "NO CLEMENCY. You comply or face punishment."
Background and Legal Context
Ghislaine Maxwell remains the only person convicted in connection with Jeffrey Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Her 2021 conviction centered on her role in recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein's abuse.
The video deposition was part of the House Oversight Committee's broader investigation into Epstein's network, which has drawn renewed attention following document releases and continued public interest in the case's unresolved questions about powerful associates.
Maxwell's legal team continues to pursue appeals while she serves her sentence, maintaining that procedural irregularities and newly disclosed documents warrant reconsideration of her conviction.
