Ghislaine Maxwell Declines to Testify, Seeks Clemency in Exchange for Statements on Trump and Clinton
Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, has invoked her Fifth Amendment rights during a deposition with the House Oversight Committee. The committee, interested in Maxwell’s potential connections to Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged abuse network, aimed to question her via a video call to the Texas federal prison camp where she is held. However, Maxwell refused to answer questions that could be self-incriminating.
The committee’s interest in Maxwell stems from ongoing investigations into Epstein’s ability to exploit underage girls over several years. While both former Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton have been associated with Epstein in the past, neither has faced credible accusations of wrongdoing. Maxwell, through her attorney David Oscar Markus, suggested a willingness to testify that both Trump and Clinton are innocent, but only if President Trump grants her clemency. Markus stated, “Maxwell is prepared to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency by President Trump.”
Democratic lawmakers viewed Maxwell’s offer as an overt plea for clemency. “It’s very clear she’s campaigning for clemency,” remarked Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico. Another Democrat, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, noted Maxwell appeared “robotic” and “unrepentant” during the call. On the Republican front, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna expressed strong opposition to clemency, posting on social media that Maxwell should face justice for her actions.
Besides seeking clemency, Maxwell is attempting to overturn her conviction. Her appeal to the Supreme Court was denied last year, but she has petitioned a federal judge in New York to consider what her legal team describes as “substantial new evidence” of constitutional violations during her trial.
House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer expressed disappointment over Maxwell’s refusal to engage with the deposition. Comer also continues to push for the Clintons’ testimonies regarding their connections to Epstein. After threatening contempt charges, both Bill and Hillary Clinton agreed to closed-door depositions later this month. Comer aims to release transcripts and videos of these sessions afterward.
Meanwhile, lawmakers are set to review unredacted files on Epstein, recently made available by the Department of Justice in accordance with a new law. These documents may shed further light on the extensive network surrounding Epstein and his associates.
Family members of Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most vocal accusers, have publicly denounced Maxwell, describing her as a key player in the abuse they suffered. In a letter, Sky and Amanda Roberts accused Maxwell of being a “central, deliberate actor” in Epstein’s exploitation scheme.
