Refusal to Testify, Offer of a Pardon Trade
Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, declined to answer questions from the US House Oversight Committee on Monday as part of renewed investigations into Epstein’s network. Appearing via video link from a federal prison camp in Texas, where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, Maxwell repeatedly invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Her legal team said she would only be willing to testify if granted clemency by President Donald Trump.
Claims Involving Trump and Clinton
Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, told lawmakers that his client is prepared to “speak fully and honestly” if pardoned, adding that she would testify that neither President Trump nor former President Bill Clinton committed any wrongdoing in their ties to Epstein. Both men spent time with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s, and Trump is mentioned more than 1,000 times in recently released case documents. Lawmakers are attempting to identify others who may have helped facilitate Epstein’s abuse.
Bipartisan Backlash and Ongoing Legal Battles
Maxwell’s push for clemency was met with sharp resistance from both parties. Democratic Representative Melanie Stansbury said it was clear Maxwell was “campaigning for clemency,” while Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna rejected the idea outright, posting, “NO CLEMENCY. You comply or face punishment.” Maxwell continues to fight her conviction, arguing she was wrongfully tried. Although the Supreme Court rejected her appeal last year, she has asked a New York federal judge to review what her lawyers claim is new evidence of constitutional violations. As scrutiny intensifies following the release of millions of Epstein-related documents, lawmakers remain focused on uncovering how Epstein was able to abuse girls as young as 11, according to a lawsuit filed by the US Virgin Islands.
