Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell on Monday invoked the Fifth Amendment during a virtual deposition before the House Oversight Committee.
Chairman of the committee, James Comer, shared her decision after the closed-door meeting took place.
“This is obviously very disappointing, ” Comer said. “We had many questions to ask about the crimes she and Epstein committed, as well as questions about potential co-conspirators. We sincerely want to get to the truth to the American people and justice for the survivors. That’s what this investigation is about.”
Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison, was expected to refuse to answer the committee’s questions regarding Epstein and his links to powerful people in business, politics, and entertainment. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while in a correctional facility in New York
Maxwell’s lawyer, David Oscar Markus, told the committee that his client has a pending petition for a new trial or release and that is why is would not answer any questions.
“Unfortunately, she had any opportunity today to answer questions that every American has, questions that would be very important in this investigation, and she chose to invoke her Fifth Amendment,” Comer said.
Later on Monday, her attorney said that she would cooperate in exchange for Trump granting her clemency.
In July of last year, Trump said he hadn’t considered pardoning her although his scope of power would allow it.
“I’m allowed to do it, but it’s something I have not thought about,” he said before telling reporters he didn’t want to talk about the situation.
Markus seemed to bolster the plea for clemency by noting in a statement that Maxwell is the only person who can give a complete account of Epstein’s sex trafficking enterprise.
“Some may not like what they hear, but the truth matters. For example, both President Trump and President Clinton are innocent of any wrongdoing. Ms. Maxwell alone can explain why, and the public is entitled to that explanation,” Markus said.
Last week, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton provided testimony to the Committee in a closed-door deposition after threatening to hold them in contempt of Congress.
