Ghislaine Maxwell has invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a hearing before the US House Oversight Committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein. The 64-year-old British socialite appeared via video link from a low-security prison in Texas, where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking and conspiracy.
Maxwell, who acted as Epstein's 'madam', refused to answer questions, citing her ongoing appeal. Her lawyer, David Oscar Markus, stated that she would be willing to testify openly if granted clemency by President Donald Trump, a long-time associate of both Maxwell and Epstein. The White House has denied any clemency is being considered.
Democratic congressman Ro Khanna had prepared questions about secret non-prosecution agreements involving 29 Epstein associates and whether Maxwell or Epstein ever provided underage girls to Trump. No evidence of wrongdoing by Trump has emerged. During a previous nine-hour interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Maxwell said she never witnessed Trump in any inappropriate setting.
Maxwell compared public reaction to the Epstein case to a 'Salem witch trial', saying people have 'lost their minds' over the matter. The hearing lasted less than an hour, with Maxwell providing little new information about Epstein's associates, including Prince Andrew, Bill Gates, and Ehud Barak.
The Epstein case continues to shadow the Trump administration, despite a joint FBI and Justice Department memo concluding that Epstein died by suicide in 2019 and found no evidence of a client list. Maxwell's transfer to a Texas prison camp has fuelled speculation about a possible pardon, which the White House denies.
