In brief
During a video call from prison, Ghislaine Maxwell invoked her 5th Amendment rights, refusing to answer questions from lawmakers probing Jeffrey Epstein’sNetwork of abuse. This comes as lawmakers are pushing to unveil more details about how Epstein could exploit underage girls for years. With the House Oversight Committee demanding accountability, and preparations made to question prominent figures like Bill and Hillary Clinton, representatives are intensifying their efforts to shed light on the Epstein case.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers attempted to interview Ghislaine Maxwell on Monday, but she invoked her 5th Amendment rights to avoid answering questions that might incriminate her. The former girlfriend and confidante of Jeffrey Epstein was due to be questioned during a video call from the federal prison camp in Texas, where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.
Maxwell's invocation of her rights comes at a time when she is under fresh scrutiny, as Congress investigates the circumstances surrounding Epstein's ability to exploit underage girls for decades. Maxwell has been seeking to have her conviction overturned, claiming wrongful conviction.
The questioning of Maxwell is part of a wider legislative effort to uncover details about Epstein's network and those who may have facilitated his actions. Lawmakers from the House Oversight Committee were also looking into unredacted versions of documents related to Epstein that the Department of Justice released as per a law enacted by Congress last year.
Last year, the House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena for Maxwell's testimony. Although her attorneys have consistently informed lawmakers that she would not answer their inquiries, the Republican chairman, Rep. James Comer, insisted on the deposition despite this apparent obstruction.
Comer faced mounting pressure to ensure the deposition occurred as he pressed for enforcing subpoenas against former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In light of the threat of contempt of Congress charges, both agreed to participate in depositions scheduled for later this month.
