Invoking the Fifth Amendment
Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate and former partner of Jeffrey Epstein, refused to answer questions from the US House Oversight Committee during a deposition on Monday. Appearing via video from a federal prison in Texas, where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, Maxwell repeatedly invoked her Fifth Amendment rights, declining to comment on her involvement or connections in Epstein’s network.
Clemency Proposal Sparks Outrage
Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, revealed that she would be willing to testify fully if granted clemency by former President Donald Trump. Markus claimed that both Trump and former President Bill Clinton were innocent of any wrongdoing, but only Maxwell could explain why. Lawmakers reacted with strong opposition, with members of both parties condemning the attempt. Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna wrote on social media, “NO CLEMENCY. You comply or face punishment,” while Democrat Melanie Stansbury said Maxwell was clearly “campaigning for clemency.”
Appeals and Renewed Scrutiny
Maxwell has continued to challenge her conviction, seeking a review of what her lawyers call “substantial new evidence” and alleged constitutional violations. The Supreme Court rejected her appeal last year, and the White House indicated a presidential pardon was unlikely. Her case has gained fresh attention following the release of millions of Epstein-related documents, as lawmakers try to piece together the network that allowed the abuse of girls, some reportedly as young as 11, according to a US Virgin Islands lawsuit.
