Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell rejects House testimony, seeks clemency from Trump

Jeffrey Epsteincolleagues Ghislaine Maxwell She declined to answer questions from a U.S. congressional panel on Monday and said she would only speak if she received clemency from President Donald Trump.Maxwell, 64, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, was subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee to testify about her relationship with Epstein.However, the former British socialite did not answer the panel’s questions, instead citing her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.“As expected, Ghislaine Maxwell finished fifth and refused to answer any questions,” committee chairman James Comer told reporters. “This is obviously very disappointing.”“We have many questions to ask about the crimes she and Epstein committed and potential co-conspirators,” he added.Maxwell’s attorney, David Marcus, said she would be willing to speak publicly if Trump granted her clemency.“If this committee and the American public truly want to hear the unfiltered truth about what happened, there is a direct path,” Marcus said in a statement. “If President Trump grants clemency, Ms. Maxwell is prepared to speak fully and honestly.”Marcus also said that Trump and former President Bill Clinton – both of whom had past relationships with Epstein – “did not engage in any wrongdoing.”“Only Ms Maxwell can explain why, and the public is entitled to such an explanation,” he said.Maxwell is the only person convicted in connection with Epstein, who died in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.In 2021, she was convicted of recruiting and providing underage girls to Epstein. Epstein had ties to powerful business leaders, politicians, celebrities and academics.Maxwell was serving time in a Texas prison and was called to testify. Her testimony comes as the Justice Department recently released millions of documents, photos and videos related to the Epstein investigation.The Justice Department said it expected no new indictments, but some politicians and business figures have faced public scrutiny or resigned after their ties to Epstein surfaced.

“Unrepentant”

Democratic lawmaker Subrahmanyam, who took part in the closed-door testimony, said Maxwell had shown no remorse.“She’s very robotic, you know, and she has no regrets at all about the fifth house request today,” Subramaniam said. “This is all part of her strategy to try to get a pardon from President Trump.”The House Oversight Committee also subpoenaed former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to testify about their interactions with Epstein.The Clintons asked that their testimony be held publicly to prevent Republicans from politicizing the process.Trump, who was once close to Epstein, has not yet been called to testify by the Republican-led committee.Trump had earlier opposed the release of Epstein’s documents but later signed a law forcing their release under pressure from lawmakers, including members of his own party.The move reflects growing public pressure over longstanding suspicions that powerful people linked to Epstein are being protected.