Ghislaine Maxwell’s legal team has proposed a conditional offer of testimony in exchange for clemency, as she repeatedly invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a House Oversight Committee hearing regarding the Epstein case.
Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker and longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination on Monday, refusing to answer any questions during a closed-door virtual deposition before the House Oversight Committee.
Appearing via video link from a federal prison camp in Texas—where she is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein’s scheme to recruit and abuse underage girls—Maxwell repeatedly declined to respond, stating variations of “I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence” more than a dozen times. The brief session, part of the committee’s ongoing probe into Epstein’s network and potential co-conspirators, yielded no new information from the key figure at its center.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) described the outcome as “obviously very disappointing” in remarks to reporters afterward. “We had many questions to ask about the crimes she and Epstein committed, as well as questions about potential co-conspirators,” Comer said. “We sincerely want to get to the truth for the American people, and justice for the survivors—that’s what this investigation is about.”
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The deposition unfolded amid heightened scrutiny following recent releases of Epstein-related files, including unredacted documents reviewed by lawmakers. Maxwell’s appearance had been long anticipated, yet her legal team had signaled in advance that she would not cooperate without assurances of clemency.
Her attorney, David Oscar Markus, used the proceeding to reiterate a conditional offer: Maxwell “is prepared to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency by President Trump,” he stated. “Only she can provide the complete account. Some may not like what they hear, but the truth matters.” Markus specifically claimed Maxwell would testify that both President Trump and former President Bill Clinton are “innocent of any wrongdoing” in connection to Epstein.
Democratic lawmakers sharply criticized the maneuver. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) called it an attempt to “campaign for clemency.” Ranking Member Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) expressed frustration that Maxwell “answered no questions and provided no information about the men who raped and trafficked women and girls,” questioning who she might be protecting.
A group of Epstein survivors had preemptively urged the committee in a letter to treat any potential testimony from Maxwell with deep skepticism. They highlighted her history of refusing to identify powerful individuals allegedly involved in Epstein’s operation and her lack of meaningful cooperation with authorities, warning that granting her “special treatment” or credibility would devastate victims.
The White House has maintained that no leniency for Maxwell is under consideration or discussion.
Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on federal sex-trafficking charges for her instrumental role in luring vulnerable minors to Epstein, her former boyfriend and financier, for sexual exploitation. Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on similar charges. Maxwell’s ongoing appeals, including a pending habeas petition, were cited in her repeated invocations of silence during the deposition.
The committee continues its investigation, with additional depositions scheduled—including from prominent figures—as it seeks to uncover the full scope of Epstein’s influence and any lingering accountability gaps years after his death. For survivors and the public alike, Monday’s session served as a stark reminder: the shadows cast by Epstein’s crimes remain long, and key voices like Maxwell’s stay stubbornly silent.
Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, stayed mostly silent during a key congressional questioning session on Monday, February 9, 2026. Appearing virtually from prison, she repeatedly invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, refusing to answer questions about Epstein’s crimes, possible accomplices, and any ties to powerful figures like President Donald Trump. Ghislaine Maxwell denies seeing ‘inappropriate’ conduct by Trump.
The session was part of the House Oversight Committee’s ongoing probe into Epstein’s sex-trafficking network. Epstein, a wealthy financier who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial, was accused of abusing dozens of underage girls, with Maxwell convicted in 2021 for helping recruit and groom victims. She is serving a 20-year sentence. Maxwell refuses to answer questions about Epstein in congressional hearing.
What Lawmakers Wanted to Know
Before the deposition, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna (California) sent a pointed letter to Republican Chairman James Comer (Kentucky), outlining questions he planned to ask. These included:
- Details from a court filing Maxwell made last year mentioning “four named co-conspirators” and about 25 other men who settled claims but were never charged.
- Who those individuals were and why they faced no prosecution.
- Maxwell and Epstein’s social ties to Donald Trump — including photos of them together — and whether she or Epstein ever facilitated access to underage girls for him.
- Any discussions about a potential pardon or reduced sentence from Trump or his team, especially after Trump publicly said he would “look at” the idea.
Khanna highlighted what he called an inconsistency. Maxwell had earlier spoken openly (without pleading the Fifth) in a July 2025 meeting with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche (who once served as Trump’s personal lawyer). In that DOJ interview, she reportedly said she never saw inappropriate behavior by Trump or former President Bill Clinton, and insisted no secret “client list” or blackmail scheme existed.
But on Monday, Maxwell — advised by her lawyers — declined to respond to any substantive questions. Her attorney later stated she was “prepared to speak fully and honestly” only if granted clemency (a form of forgiveness or sentence reduction) by President Trump.
Comer called the outcome “very disappointing,” noting the committee had hoped for answers about the crimes and any unindicted accomplices. Video clips released afterward showed Maxwell calmly repeating variations of: “I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence.”
Broader Context: New Epstein Files
The deposition unfolded on the same day members of Congress began viewing nearly three million unredacted pages of Epstein-related files at the Justice Department. These documents were released under a new law passed by Congress last year (the Epstein Files Transparency Act), aimed at greater openness.
The public versions had heavy redactions to protect victims and privacy, but lawmakers can now see the full versions in person at DOJ headquarters. Comer praised the access, saying it was “great” for transparency.
However, some lawmakers — including Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie — raised concerns about remaining redactions even in unredacted files, questioning whether the DOJ fully complied. Epstein survivors have also pushed for more openness, releasing a video calling for fewer secrets around certain files.
Blanche has pushed back against cover-up claims, insisting no hidden list of prosecutable men exists and that decisions not to charge others were based on evidence, not protection.
Why This Matters
The Epstein case continues to fuel public interest and debate years after his death, especially regarding whether powerful people escaped accountability. Maxwell’s refusal to talk — while tying cooperation to a possible Trump pardon — adds fresh tension, with critics like Khanna arguing she should face stricter prison conditions and no leniency.
Trump has long denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein, saying he cut ties years ago and has never been accused by victims of crimes. No charges have been brought against him in connection with the case.
As Congress digs deeper into the files and schedules more depositions (including potential ones with figures like the Clintons), the saga shows no signs of fading — leaving many questions still unanswered in one of America’s most notorious scandals.