Silence in Congress, Appeal to the White House
Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, refused to answer questions from the US House Oversight Committee during a deposition on Monday, invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence at a federal prison camp in Texas after being convicted of sex trafficking. Her refusal came as lawmakers intensified efforts to uncover who may have helped Epstein carry out years of abuse.
Clemency Offer Tied to Testimony
While declining to cooperate, Maxwell signaled through her legal team that she would be willing to testify if granted clemency by President Donald Trump. Her attorney, David Oscar Markus, said Maxwell was prepared to speak “fully and honestly” and claimed she could confirm that neither Trump nor former President Bill Clinton engaged in wrongdoing related to Epstein. Both men had social connections with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s, and Trump is mentioned extensively in recently released documents linked to the case.
Bipartisan Backlash and Ongoing Legal Fight
Lawmakers from both parties sharply rejected any suggestion of leniency. Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansbury said Maxwell was clearly “campaigning for clemency,” while Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna issued blunt warnings on social media, declaring there should be “NO CLEMENCY.” Meanwhile, Maxwell continues to fight her conviction, arguing she was wrongfully tried. Although the Supreme Court rejected her appeal last year, she has asked a federal judge to review what her lawyers describe as new evidence of constitutional violations. As new Epstein-related documents emerge, scrutiny of Maxwell’s role has only intensified, particularly around how the late financier was able to abuse underage girls for years.
