Convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell refused to answer questions from the U.S. House Oversight Committee on Monday, invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a closed virtual deposition.
She appeared from a low-security prison in Bryan, Texas, where she serves a 20-year sentence for grooming underage girls for abuse by her former partner Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in jail in 2019.
Committee chair James Comer, a Republican, voiced disappointment at the outcome. “This is obviously very disappointing,” he said. “We had many questions to ask about the crimes she and Epstein committed, as well as questions about potential co-conspirators.” He reaffirmed the probe’s aim. “We sincerely want to get to the truth for the American people, and justice for the survivors, that’s what this investigation is about.”
Democratic Representative Melanie Stansbury claimed Maxwell used the hearing to “campaign for clemency” from President Donald Trump. Comer agreed, citing survivor views that painted Maxwell as “a very bad person” unfit for leniency.
Epstein survivors had warned the committee beforehand to doubt Maxwell, noting her refusal to identify “the many powerful men” in Epstein’s trafficking ring or to meaningfully cooperate with police. They cautioned that special treatment or credibility afforded to her testimony would hurt victims.
Her lawyer David Oscar Markus posted online that Maxwell was “prepared to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency by President Trump.”
“Only she can provide the complete account. Some may not like what they hear, but the truth matters.”
The White House stated no leniency is being given or discussed for Maxwell. Trump insists he cut ties with Epstein long ago, facing no victim accusations. Previously, Maxwell told Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche she saw no wrongdoing by Trump or Bill Clinton and denied an Epstein “client list” exists.
Democratic Representative Ro Khanna sought details on Maxwell’s mention of “four named co-conspirators” and 25 others uncharged, plus Trump ties and pardon talks, but got nothing. He noted her earlier candour with Blanche contradicted her silence here. The session, postponed from last August, produced no revelations.
This comes as Congress reviews nearly three million unredacted Epstein files under a 2025 transparency law. Comer welcomed access.
“I think it’s great that the Department of Justice is letting members of Congress come in and look at all the un-redacted versions of the documents.” Survivors push for more openness, while Blanche rejects cover-up claims of a “hidden tranche of information of men that we know about.”