Fifth Amendment Standoff on Capitol Hill
Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, refused to answer questions from the US House Oversight Committee on Monday as lawmakers pressed forward with renewed investigations into Epstein’s abuse network. Appearing via video link from a federal prison camp in Texas, Maxwell repeatedly invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, declining to engage with questions about who may have enabled Epstein’s crimes.
Clemency Offer Raises Political Firestorm
Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, signaled through her attorney that she would be willing to testify if granted clemency by President Donald Trump. Her lawyer, David Oscar Markus, said Maxwell was prepared to “speak fully and honestly” and claimed she could attest that neither Trump nor former President Bill Clinton engaged in wrongdoing related to Epstein. The suggestion immediately drew bipartisan backlash, with lawmakers accusing Maxwell of attempting to leverage testimony for her freedom. Several members of Congress dismissed the idea outright, calling it an inappropriate and self-serving tactic.
Legal Battles and Renewed Scrutiny
Maxwell continues to fight her conviction, arguing she was wrongfully found guilty. Although the Supreme Court rejected her appeal last year, her legal team recently asked a federal judge to review what they describe as new evidence pointing to constitutional violations during her trial. Her attorney cited that ongoing legal effort as a reason for her refusal to testify. The renewed attention comes amid the release of millions of Epstein-related documents and fresh scrutiny of how the late financier was able to abuse underage girls for years, with Maxwell once again at the center of investigators’ focus.
