Ghislaine Maxwell Invokes Fifth Amendment in House Oversight Deposition

Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, appeared virtually before the House Oversight Committee on February 9, 2026. During the closed-door deposition, she invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, declining to answer questions related to Jeffrey Epstein's network.

Maxwell's legal team had previously indicated her intention to plead the Fifth, aligning with her current legal strategy. This stance contrasts with her earlier cooperation during a July 2025 interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, where she did not invoke this right.

Lawmakers expressed frustration over Maxwell's refusal to provide testimony. Representative Robert Garcia criticized her demeanor as unrepentant and accused her of attempting to secure clemency by offering to exonerate former Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton from any wrongdoing related to Epstein.

The deposition is part of the committee's broader investigation into Epstein's activities and his connections to influential figures. The Department of Justice has recently granted legislators access to over 3 million unredacted Epstein-related files, aiming to shed light on how Epstein managed to exploit underage girls for years.

In related developments, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to testify before the committee later this month, following the threat of contempt votes for defying previous subpoenas. Their depositions are scheduled for February 26 and 27, respectively.