Ghislaine Maxwell to Invoke Fifth Amendment at House Oversight Committee Deposition

Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime associate of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, plans to refuse to answer questions during a scheduled deposition before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Monday, according to a letter sent Sunday by Representative Ro Khanna. The development adds a new layer of controversy to ongoing congressional scrutiny surrounding Epstein’s network and related government actions.

Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 on federal charges for helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence. According to Khanna, a Democrat from California and a member of the Oversight Committee, Maxwell intends to invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and decline to respond to all substantive questions posed during the deposition. Instead, she is expected to deliver a prepared statement at the outset of her testimony.

In his letter to Committee Chair James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, Khanna raised concerns about Maxwell’s legal strategy. He noted that her decision appears inconsistent with previous behavior, pointing out that Maxwell did not invoke the Fifth Amendment during an earlier meeting with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. That prior discussion reportedly covered subject matter similar to what the committee plans to address during the deposition.

Khanna did not specify how he obtained information about Maxwell’s intentions, but he urged the committee to seek clarification regarding her planned testimony. Maxwell’s attorney did not immediately respond to media requests for comment on Sunday.

The anticipated deposition comes amid renewed public attention on the Epstein case following the U.S. Department of Justice’s recent release of millions of internal documents related to Epstein and associated investigations. Lawmakers and the public alike have been closely monitoring the disclosures, which have fueled calls for greater transparency and accountability regarding how federal authorities handled the Epstein case over the years.

Maxwell’s refusal to answer questions could limit the committee’s ability to gather new information, but her appearance itself underscores the continued political and legal fallout from one of the most high-profile sex trafficking cases in recent U.S. history. As the Oversight Committee presses forward, the deposition is expected to draw significant attention from both lawmakers and the public.