Ghislaine Maxwell pleaded the Fifth during her deposition before the House Oversight Committee’s probe into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The former Epstein confidant’s Monday testimony comes as part of the committee’s investigation into the federal handling of the Epstein case. Chairman James Comer said in January that Maxwell’s lawyers had “made it clear” she would refuse to answer questions, according to CBS News. (RELATED: Ghislaine Maxwell To Appear Before Congress In Epstein Investigation)
Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence after her 2021 conviction on federal sex-trafficking charges for her role in sexually exploiting and abusing minor girls with Epstein.
As expected, Ghislaine Maxwell invoked the Fifth today and refused to answer our questions about her crimes with Jeffrey Epstein and potential co-conspirators.
This is extremely disappointing.
Our goal remains unchanged: uncover the truth and secure justice for the survivors. pic.twitter.com/eZCfgxP57i
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) February 9, 2026
Her decision to invoke the Fifth Amendment protection contrasts with a late July interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche at FCI Tallahassee, during which she answered questions about her relationship with Epstein and others in his circle. About a week later, on July 31, Maxwell was quietly transferred to Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas — a minimum-security women’s facility known for dormitory-style housing, limited perimeter security, and low staff-to-inmate ratios.
Maxwell’s attorney David Oscar Markus filed a July 28 reply brief asking the Supreme Court to overturn the Second Circuit’s ruling, questioning whether a U.S. attorney’s promise can legally bind the federal government.
NEW: Epstein survivors write this open letter for lawmakers during today’s deposition of Ghislaine Maxwell.
“Ms. Maxwell was not a peripheral figure.”
“To this day, Ms. Maxwell has refused to identify the many powerful men involved in the trafficking operation.” pic.twitter.com/yGxmF1V9NZ
— Aaron Parnas (@AaronParnas) February 9, 2026
The argument centers on a 2008 non-prosecution agreement negotiated by then-U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta, under which Epstein pleaded guilty to state prostitution charges, registered as a sex offender, compensated victims, and served 13 months in county jail with work-release. Acosta’s decision to keep the deal secret from Epstein’s victims was later ruled illegal under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act.
Maxwell’s appeal was fully briefed by July 28 and distributed for the Court’s Sept. 29 “long conference,” where justices review petitions accumulated over the summer. The Court ultimately declined to take up the case, according to SCOTUSblog.
Prosecutors described Maxwell as a key figure in Epstein’s operation, alleging she spent nearly a decade helping groom, recruit, and abuse underage victims. She also appears frequently throughout documents released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law signed by President Donald Trump in November that mandated public disclosure of Justice Department materials related to the Epstein and Maxwell investigations.
🚨 BREAKING: New photo of Bill Clinton swimming with Ghislaine Maxwell and a potential victim and/or minor
Per the Epstein Files Transparency Act, DOJ was specifically instructed only to redact the faces of victims and/or minors
This is pretty damning for Bill Clinton. pic.twitter.com/ShXkEv0Bfm
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) December 19, 2025
In its probe, the Oversight Committee has requested documents from the Justice Department and Epstein’s estate and issued subpoenas to several former attorneys general, FBI directors, and high-profile figures including Bill and Hillary Clinton. (RELATED: Ghislaine Maxwell To Appear Before Congress In Epstein Investigation)
The Clintons initially resisted, labeling the subpoenas “invalid and legally unenforceable,” but agreed to appear for depositions later in February after facing a possible contempt of Congress vote.
