Ghislaine Maxwell Refuses to Reveal Epstein Connections and Potential Co Conspirators as House Oversight Committee Conducts High Profile Deposition

Chilling scenes unfolded Monday as Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite at the center of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, appeared virtually before the House Oversight Committee.

The footage captured Maxwell repeatedly invoking her Fifth Amendment rights, refusing to answer questions about her role in Epstein’s criminal activities.

The hearing lasted less than an hour, but it was enough to show the 64-year-old in her beige prison uniform, wearing round glasses, seated across a table in what appeared to be a stark courtroom setting.

Her responses were formal, emotionless, and consistent: she would not answer questions without her lawyer’s approval.

Refusing to Speak on Epstein

Maxwell’s legal strategy was clear from the first question.

When asked about her relationship with Epstein, she calmly stated:

“I would like to answer your question, but on the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer this question and any related questions.

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.”

Throughout the session, she repeated the phrase like clockwork, never revealing any details.

Lawmakers asked her directly if she had been involved in recruiting or grooming young women for Epstein, or if she had instructed others to provide sexual favors—but she remained silent.

Other pointed questions about co-conspirators, attempts to manipulate powerful individuals, and shielding themselves from scrutiny were met with the same refusal.

Background: Maxwell’s Conviction and Prison Sentence

Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence in Texas after being convicted in 2021 of trafficking underage girls to Epstein.

She remains the only known associate of Epstein’s to have been imprisoned.

Her incarceration and high-profile trial captured worldwide attention, particularly as details of Epstein’s connections to elite political and business figures emerged.

New scrutiny has emerged following the release of over three million pages of documents related to Epstein’s prosecution.

These documents suggest Epstein maintained a vast network of influential contacts, highlighting the potential scale of the crimes in which Maxwell was involved.

Legal Maneuvers and Cleansing Requests

Ahead of the deposition, Maxwell’s attorneys told the committee she would not answer questions unless granted clemency from President Donald Trump.

Trump, who had known Epstein socially in the 1990s and early 2000s but later distanced himself, has not offered any pardon or commutation.

Maxwell’s deposition was initially scheduled for August but delayed as her attorneys awaited a Supreme Court ruling on her appeal.

The court ultimately declined to hear her case in October, leaving her conviction in place.

Congressional Response and Next Steps

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and Representative Ro Khanna said they expected Maxwell to plead the Fifth, and the hearing largely confirmed those expectations.

Comer confirmed that the full video of Maxwell’s testimony will be made public.

Looking ahead, the committee plans to hold additional depositions with former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Initially resistant to complying, the couple agreed to testify after Comer threatened contempt of Congress charges.

What’s next?

The Oversight Committee’s investigation is ongoing.

Lawmakers continue to examine how the Justice Department handled Epstein’s prosecution and explore potential ties between Epstein, Maxwell, and other high-profile figures.

Future depositions and document releases may shed more light on the inner workings of Epstein’s network.

Meanwhile, Maxwell’s pending habeas petition could affect her ability to speak publicly in the future, and her appeal may still be revisited in other legal avenues.

Summary

Ghislaine Maxwell faced lawmakers in a tense, closed-door deposition but refused to answer questions about her involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, invoking her Fifth Amendment rights throughout.

Serving a 20-year sentence in Texas, Maxwell is the only Epstein associate behind bars.

Her attorney demanded clemency before she would speak, though Trump has not indicated any intention to grant it.

With additional high-profile depositions expected, including the Clintons, the investigation into Epstein’s network continues.

The release of millions of documents has already revealed the breadth of Epstein’s connections, but key questions remain unanswered.