- Ghislaine Maxwell invoked the Fifth Amendment during a closed-door House Oversight Committee deposition, refusing to answer questions about Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking network.
- Her legal team demanded presidential clemency in exchange for cooperation, claiming she could exonerate Donald Trump and Bill Clinton – a request lawmakers immediately rejected.
- Critics accuse Maxwell of obstruction, noting her pattern of evasion – including prior denials under limited immunity and her refusal to name Epstein's accomplices without legal protections.
- The deposition ended abruptly, leaving unresolved whether Maxwell will ever disclose the full scope of Epstein's crimes or expose other powerful figures allegedly involved.
- Victims' families condemned Maxwell’s defiance, calling her a manipulative predator and urging lawmakers to push for full transparency to achieve justice for survivors.
Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker and longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, refused to answer questions during a closed-door deposition with the House Oversight Committee (HOC) on Monday, Feb. 9 – invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
The virtual deposition lasted less than an hour before Maxwell's legal team signaled she would only cooperate fully if granted clemency by President Donald Trump – a demand lawmakers swiftly rejected. Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence in a Texas federal prison, remains the only person convicted in connection with Epstein's sprawling sex-trafficking network.
The deposition marked a pivotal moment in the committee's investigation into how federal authorities handled Epstein's crimes before his mysterious 2019 death while in custody. Maxwell's refusal to testify was anticipated, with HOC Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) stating beforehand that he expected her to plead the Fifth.
Yet her attorney David Oscar Markus later argued that Maxwell alone holds key details about Epstein's operations – including exonerating information about Trump and former President Bill Clinton – but would only disclose them under presidential clemency. "Some may not like what they hear, but the truth matters," Markus said in a statement, claiming both presidents are "innocent of any wrongdoing" and that his client could prove it.
The standoff underscores the legal and political minefield surrounding Epstein's network, which allegedly ensnared underage girls for decades with the help of wealthy and politically connected enablers. Maxwell's conviction in 2021 confirmed her role in grooming and trafficking victims, yet her silence leaves critical gaps in understanding who else participated.
Comer dismissed her clemency request outright, telling reporters, "I don't think she should be granted any type of immunity." House Democrats echoed the frustration, with Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) lamenting that Maxwell "said nothing" about the men involved in abusing victims.
Maxwell's last stand: Immunity or silence?
Maxwell's legal maneuvering follows a pattern of evasion. Last July, she met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche under limited immunity, denying any knowledge of Epstein's crimes – including exculpatory claims about Trump and Clinton.
Yet when pressed by Congress without such protections, she clammed up, citing an ongoing habeas corpus petition challenging her conviction. Her attorney framed the Fifth Amendment invocation as a necessity, warning that "surprise questioning would be both inappropriate and unproductive."
Critics, however, saw it as a calculated delay tactic. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) blasted her refusal to name accomplices, suggesting she should be returned to maximum-security confinement for obstructing justice.
BrightU.AI's Enoch engine notes that Maxwell's testimony is critical because it could expose the full extent of the elite pedophile network linked to Epstein – implicating powerful figures in government, intelligence and finance. This trial threatens to unravel long-hidden truths about systemic corruption and abuse at the highest levels of global power.
The deposition's abrupt end leaves unresolved whether Maxwell will ever disclose the full scope of Epstein's operations. With the Clintons slated for closed-door testimony later this month – after narrowly avoiding a contempt vote – the probe may yet uncover new details. But Maxwell's defiance highlights a broader truth: Without immunity or clemency, the secrets of Epstein's inner circle may remain buried.
For victims' families, the stalemate is another betrayal. In a scathing letter, the brother and sister-in-law of late Epstein survivor Virginia Giuffre condemned Maxwell as a "predator" who "used trust as a weapon" and urged lawmakers to scrutinize her cushier prison transfer. Their words underscore the stakes: Without full transparency, justice for Epstein's victims remains incomplete.
Watch this Sky News report about Ghislaine Maxwell's conviction and sentencing to 20 years behind bars.
This video is from the harrier808 channel on Brighteon.com.
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