The House Oversight Committee’s deposition of Ghislaine Maxwell ended in less than an hour on Monday morning. The convicted accomplice of Jeffrey Epstein invoked her Fifth Amendment rights and refused to answer questions. Maxwell appeared virtually from a Texas prison for the closed-door session.
Despite her silence, Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, issued a bold statement on social media following the brief meeting. He asserted that his client holds information that would clear both President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton. “[B]oth President Trump and President Clinton are innocent of any wrongdoing,” Markus posted on X.
The attorney made it clear that Maxwell is only willing to share the “unfiltered truth” under one condition. He told lawmakers that she is prepared to speak fully if granted clemency by President Trump. Markus argued that the public is entitled to the explanation that only Maxwell can provide.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer expressed his disappointment with the outcome of the session. “As expected, Ghislaine Maxwell took the fifth and refused to answer any questions,” Comer told reporters. He noted that the committee has many remaining questions regarding co-conspirators and justice for survivors.
Democrats on the panel were quick to accuse Maxwell of using the hearing as a lobbying tactic. Rep. James Walkinshaw demanded that President Trump publicly rule out the possibility of a pardon. “What we did get was another episode in her long-running campaign for clemency,” Walkinshaw said.
The deposition is part of a broader probe into the government’s handling of the Epstein case. Lawmakers are still scheduled to hear from several other high-profile witnesses this month. This includes depositions for both Bill and Hillary Clinton set for late February.