Convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell refused to testify before Congress without a presidential pardon, leaving Americans demanding answers about Jeffrey Epstein’s elite network in the dark while her lawyer brazenly claimed she could exonerate powerful political figures.
Story Snapshot
- Maxwell invoked Fifth Amendment rights during a virtual House Oversight deposition on February 9, 2026, refusing to answer questions without clemency from President Trump
- Her attorney claimed she could provide testimony exonerating Trump and Clinton from Epstein-related wrongdoing, positioning clemency as necessary for truth
- House Oversight Chairman James Comer rejected clemency consideration, stating Maxwell missed a key opportunity for accountability
- The deposition coincided with lawmakers reviewing previously withheld unredacted Epstein files at the Department of Justice
Maxwell Shields Elite Network Behind Constitutional Right
Ghislaine Maxwell appeared virtually from her Texas minimum-security prison on February 9, 2026, for a closed-door deposition with the House Oversight Committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking network.
Maxwell invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination throughout the session, providing no substantive testimony about Epstein’s connections to powerful figures in politics, business, and entertainment.
Her attorney, David Oscar Markus, delivered an opening statement conditioning any cooperation on presidential clemency, effectively stonewalling the Republican-led investigation into one of the most notorious criminal conspiracies involving America’s elite.
UPDATES: Depositions – Maxwell pled the fifth pic.twitter.com/a50EbIJ9v9
— Bruce Snyder (@realBruceSnyder) February 9, 2026
Clemency Gambit Raises Accountability Concerns
Markus claimed Maxwell alone possesses complete knowledge of Epstein’s operations and asserted she could exonerate both President Trump and former President Bill Clinton from any criminal wrongdoing. This assertion positions her testimony as leverage for reducing her 20-year sentence, handed down in 2022 for recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein’s trafficking scheme.
Chairman Comer firmly rejected this approach, stating Maxwell “should not be granted clemency” after choosing silence over cooperation. This maneuver highlights a disturbing pattern where convicted criminals attempt to manipulate the justice system by dangling information about powerful individuals, undermining accountability for both Maxwell’s proven crimes and potentially shielding others from scrutiny.
Republican Investigation Faces Democrat Opposition
The House Oversight Committee’s investigation has become a partisan flashpoint, with Democrats characterizing Maxwell’s clemency request as a calculated ploy rather than genuine cooperation. Republicans, controlling the committee, have pursued aggressive subpoenas, including demands for depositions from Bill and Hillary Clinton scheduled later in February 2026.
Comer previously threatened contempt charges against the Clintons, demonstrating the committee’s determination to uncover Epstein network details despite resistance. This commitment to transparency stands in contrast to years of stonewalling and protective secrecy surrounding Epstein’s elite connections, a frustration shared by Americans demanding accountability regardless of political affiliation or social status.
Epstein Files Access Signals Transparency Push
Concurrent with Maxwell’s deposition, lawmakers accessed unredacted Epstein files at the Department of Justice on February 9, following congressional legislation mandating their release. Representatives from both parties, including Andy Biggs, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, and Thomas Massie, participated in reviewing documents previously withheld from public scrutiny.
This bipartisan file access represents progress toward exposing the full scope of Epstein’s criminal enterprise and his connections to influential figures. The Trump administration’s cooperation in facilitating this review contrasts sharply with prior administrations’ reluctance to release such materials, suggesting a genuine commitment to uncovering uncomfortable truths about Washington’s protected class.
Background Reveals Pattern of Elite Protection
Jeffrey Epstein, a financier with extensive ties to political and entertainment elites, died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His death occurred under suspicious circumstances in a Manhattan jail, fueling widespread skepticism about whether powerful associates intervened to silence him. Maxwell, convicted in 2021 after her 2020 arrest, has exhausted appeals, including a failed Supreme Court challenge.
A July 2025 interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche yielded denials that she witnessed criminal activity by Trump, Clinton, or others in Epstein’s circle. Her current clemency demand contradicts her prior denials, raising questions about whether she genuinely possesses exculpatory information or simply seeks sentence reduction through manipulation.
Sources:
Maxwell expected to invoke 5th Amendment in closed, virtual House Oversight deposition
Ghislaine Maxwell declined to answer questions from house committee, citing 5th Amendment rights
