Maxwell refuses to testify to Congress, offers to speak only if granted Trump clemency

Jeffrey Epstein’s convicted accomplice refused to answer questions from the House Oversight Committee, citing her Fifth Amendment rights, while her attorney said she would speak fully if pardoned by President Trump

Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, declined to answer questions from a congressional panel on Monday but said she would be willing to speak if granted clemency by President Donald Trump.

Maxwell, 64, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking, had been subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee to discuss her ties to Epstein.

Instead of responding, the former British socialite refused to answer the committee’s questions, citing her legal right to avoid self-incrimination.

“As expected, Ghislaine Maxwell took the Fifth and refused to answer any questions,” AFP quoted committee chairman James Comer as saying. “This is obviously very disappointing.”

“We had many questions to ask about the crimes she and Epstein committed as well as questions about potential co-conspirators,” he said.

Maxwell’s attorney, David Markus, said she would be willing to speak publicly if granted clemency by President Trump.

“If this Committee and the American public truly want to hear the unfiltered truth about what happened, there is a straightforward path,” AFP quoted Markus as saying in a statement.

“Ms Maxwell is prepared to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency by President Trump,” Markus added.

Markus added that Trump and former president Bill Clinton — both of whom had been friendly with Epstein — are “innocent of any wrongdoing.”

“Ms Maxwell alone can explain why, and the public is entitled to that explanation,” he said.

Maxwell is the only person convicted in connection with Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.

She was convicted in 2021 of supplying underage girls to Epstein, who had ties to prominent business figures, politicians, celebrities, and academics.

She had been subpoenaed to testify virtually from the Texas prison where she is serving her 20-year sentence.

Her deposition comes amid the recent release by the Justice Department of millions of documents, photographs, and videos related to the Epstein investigation.

While the department has said no new prosecutions are expected, several political and business le