Ghislaine Maxwell promises to reveal 'truth about Epstein' but only if she is freed by Trump
Maxwell's lawyer told the committee that his client will not answer questions until she is granted clemency by President Trump
Jailed Ghislaine Maxwell has refused to answer questions about paedophile Jeffrey Epstein by invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a deposition before the House Oversight Committee.
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During a 10-minute hearing, Maxwell, 64, answered no questions from the powerful Congressional committee while appearing virtually from a federal prison camp in Texas.
She is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking, conspiracy and other crimes committed while in the service of Epstein.
Those present at the hearing said the British socialite's lawyer used the opportunity to "campaign" for a pardon from President Donald Trump.
In a post on X after the questioning, Maxwell's legal representative, David Markus, said his client would be "prepared to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency by President Trump".
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Mr Markus also said: "Some may not like what they hear, but the truth matters.
"For example, both President Trump and President (Bill) Clinton are innocent of any wrongdoing.
"Ms Maxwell alone can explain why, and the public is entitled to that explanation."
Following the hearing, House Oversight Committee Chairman Representative James Comer said: "Unfortunately, she had an opportunity today to answer questions that every American has, questions that would be very important in this investigation, and she chose to invoke her Fifth Amendment."
The House Oversight Committee forced Maxwell to sit for a recorded deposition as part of its ongoing investigation into the US government’s handling of the cases against Epstein and Maxwell.
Some lawmakers have accused officials of covering up information to protect other high-profile individuals.
Maxwell was found guilty in December 2021 of being an accomplice in Epstein's scheme to sexually traffic and exploit female minors.
The DOJ said at the time of her sentencing that Maxwell "enticed and groomed minor girls to be abused in multiple ways."
Justice Department officials have interviewed Maxwell about other individuals who may have committed crimes against victims of Epstein.
After sitting for an interview that stretched across two days, Maxwell was suddenly moved from a high-security prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison in Texas.