WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers attempted to interview Ghislaine Maxwell on Monday, but she invoked her 5th Amendment rights to avoid potentially incriminating questions during a video call from the federal prison camp in Texas where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. This refusal to testify comes as scrutiny increases surrounding her former partner, Jeffrey Epstein, who had sexually abused underage girls for years.
Maxwell is currently engaged in efforts to overturn her conviction, alleging wrongful prosecution. Lawmakers are particularly focused on identifying individuals connected to Epstein to gather insights into his opportunistic abuse network.
The House Oversight Committee, which subpoenaed Maxwell last year, has faced challenges as her attorneys have consistently stated that she would not answer questions. However, Republican Chairman Rep. James Comer has insisted on proceeding with the deposition amid heightened pressure from other lawmakers.
In related developments, several Democrats also aimed to review unredacted documents that were released by the Department of Justice concerning Epstein's case, allowing them to better understand the complexity of the situation.
As efforts to compel testimony expand, Comer has pushed for enforcement of subpoenas against other notable figures associated with Epstein, including former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Following threats of contempt of Congress charges, both have agreed to cooperate with the inquiry later this month.
