Congress Investigates Maxwell Amid Tensions in Ongoing Epstein Case

Ghislaine Maxwell Declines to Answer Questions on Alleged Co-Conspirators in Jeffrey Epstein Case

Ghislaine Maxwell, the associate and former girlfriend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a deposition before the US Congress. The move came as lawmakers expressed frustration over Maxwell’s refusal to answer questions about her alleged co-conspirators.

Maxwell was subpoenaed to appear before the House Oversight Committee to discuss her relations with Epstein, but she declined to testify unless US President Donald Trump granted her clemency. Her lawyers stated that she would only participate in the hearing if Trump commuted her sentence, which she received in 2022 after being convicted on charges of sex trafficking minors.

Representative James Comer, Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said Maxwell took the Fifth and refused to answer any questions about the crimes committed by herself and Epstein, as well as potential co-conspirators. Al Jazeera correspondent Alan Fisher noted that Maxwell pleaded the Fifth, citing her constitutional right not to incriminate herself.

In a letter, Representative Ro Khanna expressed frustration with Maxwell’s refusal to testify, pointing out that she had spoken with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche without invoking the Fifth Amendment on previous occasions. The decision has been described as “highly unusual” by some lawmakers, who question whether Maxwell received special treatment in exchange for political favors.

Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence and has asked Trump to commute her sentence. Her connections to a wide array of individuals at the height of political and economic power have been revealed in the Epstein files.

Source: Al Jazeera