Convicted teenage sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell is set to appear before a US congressional committee next month. Maxwell, a British ex-socialite and associate of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who is currently serving a 20-year federal prison term for sex trafficking, will exercise her right to remain silent during her virtual session with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on February 9.
According to committee chairman James Comer, Maxwell’s legal team has informed that she intends to invoke her Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. Comer expressed the committee’s intent to depose Maxwell despite the likelihood of her pleading the Fifth Amendment, emphasizing the importance of hearing from her.
Amid growing demands from Democrats to pursue contempt of Congress charges against Maxwell and US Attorney General Pam Bondi for the delayed release of Epstein-related documents, Maxwell’s attorney stated that she plans to remain silent during the subpoena compliance. The lawyer emphasized that proceeding with the deposition under these circumstances would be futile and wasteful.
Although Maxwell has indicated compliance with the subpoena, her attorney hinted at the possibility of her ultimately disregarding it. Initially served with a subpoena in July 2025, Maxwell has been denied immunity in exchange for her testimony by the committee.
During a recent meeting, Comer disclosed the scheduled deposition of Maxwell and the committee’s decision to advance contempt of Congress resolutions against former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton for failing to testify regarding their connections with Epstein. The Clintons have contested the subpoenas, arguing their lack of legislative relevance and have engaged in negotiations with Comer’s team.
The Oversight Committee is scrutinizing Epstein’s network and the government’s handling of case-related records, prompted by criticism of the Justice Department’s failure to release all relevant documents. Maxwell’s appeal to the US Supreme Court in October was declined.
Representative Robert Garcia, a ranking Democratic committee member, accused the Justice Department of favoring Maxwell by not compelling her testimony earlier. Following pressure from Democrats, Comer decided to summon Maxwell for testimony, but Garcia criticized the ongoing cover-up and called for transparency.
