Ghislaine Maxwell refused to answer questions from members of the House Oversight Committee on Monday, invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination from her Texas jail cell. The deposition, conducted via video link from the federal prison where Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, lasted only a short time due to her refusal to provide testimony.
The committee’s inquiry is part of a broader investigation into the sex-trafficking operation run by the late Jeffrey Epstein. Lawmakers are seeking to determine how Epstein maintained a network of abuse for years without intervention from law enforcement.
Maxwell, a former confidante of Epstein, is currently appealing her conviction, maintaining that she was wrongfully convicted.
READ: Epstein Files Finally Laid Bare: Congress Set To Peek Behind The Redacted Curtain Next Week
The decision to proceed with the deposition followed a period of negotiation between Maxwell’s legal team and Republican Chairman James Comer. Although Maxwell’s attorneys had previously indicated she would not answer questions, Comer insisted on the appearance.
This move follows the committee’s efforts to secure testimony from other figures linked to Epstein, including former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Both have agreed to sit for depositions later this month after facing potential contempt of Congress charges.
In addition to the deposition, several Democratic lawmakers spent Monday reviewing unredacted Department of Justice files related to the Epstein case.
READ: CNN Host Left Scrambling As Scott Jennings Questions The Silence Over Epstein Names
These documents were released following legislation passed by Congress last year aimed at increasing transparency regarding the financier’s activities and connections. The committee continues to review these materials as they search for individuals who m
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