Ghislaine Maxwell declined to reply questions from a Home committee, citing fifth Modification rights

Lawmakers tried on Monday (February 9, 2026) to interview Ghislaine Maxwell, however the former girlfriend and confidante of Jeffrey Epstein invoked her fifth Modification rights to keep away from answering questions that may be incriminating.

Maxwell was to be questioned throughout a video name to the federal jail camp in Texas the place she’s serving a 20-year sentence for intercourse trafficking. She’s come beneath new scrutiny as lawmakers attempt to examine how Epstein, a well-connected financier, was capable of sexually abuse underage women for years.

Maxwell has been in search of to have her conviction overturned, arguing that she was wrongfully convicted.

Ghislaine’s deposition comes as lawmakers are trying to find anybody who was linked to Epstein and should have facilitated his abuse. A number of Democrats additionally deliberate on Monday (February 9) to look by means of unredacted variations of the recordsdata on Epstein that the Division of Justice launched to adjust to a regulation handed by Congress final yr.

The Home Oversight Committee subpoenaed her final yr, and whereas her attorneys have persistently advised lawmakers that she gained’t reply questions, the Republican chairman, Rep. James Comer, insisted on conducting the deposition.

Mr. Comer got here beneath stress to carry the deposition as he pressed for the committee to implement subpoenas on former President Invoice Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. After Mr. Comer threatened them with contempt of Congress costs, they each agreed to sit down for depositions later this month.