Pleading the Fifth
Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted former associate of Jeffrey Epstein, declined to answer questions from the US House Oversight Committee during a deposition on Monday. Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence in a Texas federal prison for sex trafficking, invoked her Fifth Amendment rights while being questioned over video. Lawmakers are investigating individuals connected to Epstein who may have facilitated his abuse, which targeted girls as young as 11.
Clemency as a Condition for Testimony
Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, told the committee she would testify if granted a pardon by former President Donald Trump. Markus stated that Maxwell could confirm neither Trump nor former President Bill Clinton engaged in wrongdoing connected to Epstein. He emphasized that only Maxwell could fully explain her knowledge, framing it as a matter the public is entitled to hear.
Backlash and Legal Appeals
Maxwell’s request for clemency faced immediate pushback from both parties. Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansbury said she was “campaigning for clemency,” while Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna declared, “NO CLEMENCY. You comply or face punishment,” and called for justice. Maxwell continues to pursue legal avenues to overturn her conviction, claiming her trial involved constitutional violations. Although the Supreme Court rejected her appeal last year, she asked a federal judge to review new evidence in December. The recent release of millions of Epstein-related documents has intensified scrutiny of Maxwell’s role in the abuse network.
