Maxwell agrees to testify under oath
Ghislaine Maxwell, the former associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has agreed to testify before the US Congress. She will appear under oath before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. According to committee officials, the testimony will take place virtually on February 9.
Committee Chairman James Comer confirmed the development and said the session will focus on how federal authorities handled the Epstein cases. However, he noted that Maxwell’s legal team has repeatedly warned she may refuse to answer questions.
Fifth Amendment concerns remain
For months, Maxwell’s lawyers have said she would invoke her Fifth Amendment rights unless Congress grants her legal immunity. As a result, her testimony may be limited or entirely withheld.
Comer acknowledged this risk and said her attorneys have made it clear she plans to plead the Fifth. Under US law, lawmakers cannot force a witness to waive constitutional protections.
Committee pressure and legal standoff
Earlier this year, the committee declined to offer Maxwell immunity in exchange for cooperation. Despite that, lawmakers issued a subpoena in August, ordering her to submit testimony and evidence under oath.
In response, Maxwell’s lawyers pushed back strongly. They argued that testifying from prison without immunity is unacceptable. They also warned it could expose her to further criminal risk and create security concerns.
Lawyers call testimony political theater
In a letter sent Tuesday, Maxwell’s legal team said she will continue to refuse testimony. They described the committee’s actions as political theater and said the hearing would produce no new facts.
According to the letter, forcing testimony under these conditions would waste taxpayer money. The attorneys insisted that without immunity, Maxwell cannot safely or legally cooperate.
Background on Maxwell’s conviction
Maxwell is currently serving a 20 year prison sentence. A jury convicted her in 2021 for recruiting and trafficking teenage girls for Epstein’s sexual abuse network.
Last year, she asked the US Supreme Court to hear her appeal. However, the court declined to take up the case. As a result, her conviction stands.
Pardon speculation and Epstein files
Maxwell’s only clear path to early release would be a presidential pardon. While the White House has denied any plans for clemency, President Trump has said he has not fully ruled it out.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department continues to face pressure to release more Epstein related documents. Lawmakers from both parties have criticized heavy redactions in the files made public so far.
Clinton involvement under review
At the same time, the House committee is reviewing former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton’s refusal to testify in the Epstein investigation. Lawmakers are now considering contempt cha
