Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned associate of Jeffrey Epstein, declined to answer questions during a House Oversight Committee deposition on Monday, prompting bipartisan frustration and renewed scrutiny of how the federal government handled the long-running trafficking investigation.
After the session, Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona said Maxwell’s attorney told lawmakers that his client has “no indication” that either former President Donald Trump or former President Bill Clinton engaged in wrongdoing. Biggs emphasized that the statement came from counsel, not from Maxwell herself, who invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Maxwell’s appearance was part of the committee’s inquiry into how Epstein avoided accountability for years and how federal agencies managed investigative records related to his abuse network. The deposition was conducted virtually.
Committee leaders from both parties expressed disappointment at Maxwell’s refusal to testify. Chair James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, called the outcome “very disappointing,” while Democrats questioned Maxwell’s motives. Some lawmakers suggested her silence could be aimed at bolstering a request for presidential clemency, a claim her attorney has publicly raised.
Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, said ahead of the deposition that he planned to ask about other potential co-conspirators and whether Maxwell had discussed any deal involving presidential intervention. He later said many of his questions, in his view, would not have incriminated her.
Maxwell’s legal team has continued to challenge her conviction, arguing that constitutional violations tainted her trial. While the Supreme Court previously rejected her appeal, a federal judge in New York has been asked to review what her attorneys describe as newly surfaced evidence.
Separately, advocates for Epstein’s victims have urged lawmakers to pursue a thorough accounting of Maxwell’s role and the broader network involved. Lawmakers said access to additional, unredacted records could help clarify lingering questions.
