WASHINGTON: Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell refused to answer questions at a deposition before the US House’s Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Monday (Feb 9), according to lawmakers, drawing criticism from both Republican and Democratic members of the committee.
Maxwell, who was found guilty in 2021 for her role in helping Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence, invoked her Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination and declined to answer questions, lawmakers said after the deposition.
“This is obviously very disappointing. We had many questions to ask about the crimes she and Epstein committed, as well as questions about potential co-conspirators,” the committee’s chairman, Republican Representative James Comer, told reporters.
CLEMENCY
Democrats on the committee accused Maxwell of using the deposition to campaign for clemency from US President Donald Trump and called on the Republican president to rule out such a move.
“What we did not get were any substantive answers to the questions that were asked that would advance our investigation,” said Representative James Walkinshaw, a Virginia Democrat.
“What we did get was another episode in her long-running campaign for clemency from President Trump. And President Trump could end that today – he could rule out clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell, the monster.”
David Markus, a lawyer for Maxwell, said he advised her to invoke the Fifth Amendment as she has a pending habeas petition “that demonstrates that her conviction rests on a fundamentally unfair trial.”
“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,” Markus said in a statement to the Committee posted on X on Monday.