Ghislaine Maxwell refused to answer questions about Jeffrey Epstein during a deposition this week, with committee members claiming she used the hearing to ‘campaign for clemency’ from President Donald Trump.
Maxwell was an associate of sex offender Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
She was questioned by the US House Oversight Committee on Monday (9 February) during a virtual deposition from the Texas prison where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.
She invoked the Fifth Amendment when asked about Epstein, and refused to answer any questions during the hearing.
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The Fifth Amendment is the constitutional right to refuse to provide evidence that may self-incriminate.
“I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence,” Maxwell said, speaking from prison. She reportedly repeated this a dozen times during the virtual deposition, ABC News reports.
A video released of the deposition shows Maxwell refusing to answer if she was a close friend of Epstein.
"I would like to answer your question, but on the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer this question and any related questions," she responded.
"My habeas petition is pending in the Southern District of New York. I therefore invoke my right to silence under the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution."
Maxwell refused to answer whether she was involved in trafficking of young women or girls.
When asked if she ever coerced any young women or girls to provide sexual favors to Epstein, she also declined to answer.
She declined when asked to provide names of any additional co-conspirators and refused to answer if she was aware that Epstein was sexually abusing minors and adult women, and whether she ever participated in sexual abuse of any minors or adult women.
David Markus, Maxwell’s lawyer, said during the deposition: “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."
The lawyer added: "For example, both President Trump and President Clinton are innocent of any wrongdoing. Ms. Maxwell alone can explain why, and the public is entitled to hear that explanation."
The move did not come as a surprise for lawmakers, who expected Maxwell to refuse to answer questions. Republican House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer said that Maxwell invoking the Fifth Amendment was ‘as expected’.
"This is obviously very disappointing," he told reporters.
"We had many questions to ask about the crimes she and Epstein committed, as well as questions about potential co-conspirators."
Comer added: "We sincerely want to get to the truth for the American people, and justice for the survivors, that's what this investigation is about.”
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) released three million additional pages from the Epstein Files on 30 January, including over 2,000 videos and 180,000 images. It ultimately left the public with many questions about Epstein and his associates.
Topics: Jeffrey Epstein, US News
The Tyla Team