Convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell declined to respond to inquiries from US lawmakers on Monday, with her attorney suggesting she would be willing to talk if granted clemency by President Donald Trump.
Maxwell, aged 64, who is currently serving a 20-year prison term for involvement in sex trafficking, had been summoned by the House Oversight Committee to discuss her connections with Epstein.
Instead of answering the committee’s queries, the former British socialite invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Committee chairman James Comer expressed disappointment, stating, “As anticipated, Ghislaine Maxwell invoked the Fifth Amendment and refrained from answering any questions. This is clearly disheartening.”
“We had numerous inquiries regarding the offenses she and Epstein committed, as well as queries about potential collaborators,” Comer added.
Maxwell’s lawyer, David Markus, indicated that she would be open to speaking publicly if granted clemency by Trump.
“If this Committee and the American public genuinely seek to hear the unfiltered truth about the events, there is a clear route,” Markus stated. “Ms. Maxwell is willing to speak openly and truthfully if granted clemency by President Trump.”
Markus also asserted that Trump and former President Bill Clinton, both of whom had associations with Epstein, are “not guilty of any misconduct.”
“Ms. Maxwell alone can clarify why, and the public deserves that explanation,” he emphasized.
Maxwell is the sole individual convicted in connection with Epstein, who passed away in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.
In 2021, Maxwell was convicted of providing underage girls to Epstein, who had links to influential business figures, politicians, celebrities, and academics.
She was called to testify remotely from the Texas penitentiary where she is serving her sentence.
Her testimony coincides with the recent release by the Justice Department of millions of documents related to the government’s Epstein investigation, many of which have been heavily edited.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), enacted by Congress in November, mandated the Justice Department to disclose all records in its possession related to Epstein.
The act required the exclusion of names or personal identifying details of Epstein’s victims, estimated to be over 1,000 according to the FBI.
However, the EFTA specified that no records could be withheld, delayed, or redacted due to embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary.
Representative Jamie Raskin, a Democrat, was among the lawmakers who reviewed the unedited Epstein files at a secure Justice Department site on Monday.
“I observed the names of numerous individuals redacted for mysterious or perplexing reasons,” Raskin informed reporters. “Individuals who facilitated and collaborated with Jeffrey Epstein that were simply blacked out for no apparent cause.”
Although the Justice Department does not anticipate new prosecutions, several political and business leaders globally have faced disgrace or resigned following the exposure of their connections with Epstein.
Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican, disclosed discovering the identities of six men redacted from publicly released documents, who “are likely implicated by their inclusion in these files.”
Massie refrained from revealing their identities but noted that one “holds a significant position in a foreign government.”
The House Oversight Committee has summoned Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to testify about their engagements with Epstein.
The Clintons have urged for their depositions to be conducted publicly to prevent politicization by Republicans.
Although Trump was previously close to Epstein, he has not been called to testify by the Republican-led committee.
Trump had opposed the release of extensive documentations about Epstein for months, but pressure from Republicans compelled him to endorse a law mandating the release of all records.
This move reflected strong political pressure to address what many Americans, including Trump’s supporters, have long suspected as an attempt to shield wealthy and influential figures associated with Epstein.
