WASHINGTON: Jeffrey Epstein affiliate Ghislaine Maxwell refused to reply questions at a deposition earlier than the US Home’s Committee on Oversight and Authorities Reform on Monday (Feb 9), in keeping with lawmakers, drawing criticism from each Republican and Democratic members of the committee.
Maxwell, who was discovered responsible in 2021 for her function in serving to Epstein sexually abuse teenage ladies and is presently serving a 20-year jail sentence, invoked her Fifth Modification privilege towards self-incrimination and declined to reply questions, lawmakers mentioned after the deposition.
“That is clearly very disappointing. We had many inquiries to ask concerning the crimes she and Epstein dedicated, in addition to questions on potential co-conspirators,” the committee’s chairman, Republican Consultant James Comer, instructed reporters.
CLEMENCY
Democrats on the committee accused Maxwell of utilizing the deposition to marketing campaign for clemency from US President Donald Trump and known as on the Republican president to rule out such a transfer.
“What we didn’t get have been any substantive solutions to the questions that have been requested that may advance our investigation,” mentioned Consultant James Walkinshaw, a Virginia Democrat.
“What we did get was one other episode in her long-running marketing campaign for clemency from President Trump. And President Trump might finish that at present – he might rule out clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell, the monster.”
David Markus, a lawyer for Maxwell, mentioned he suggested her to invoke the Fifth Modification as she has a pending habeas petition “that demonstrates that her conviction rests on a basically unfair trial.”
“If this Committee and the American public actually need to hear the unfiltered fact about what occurred, there’s a simple path. Ms. Maxwell is ready to talk totally and actually if granted clemency by President Trump,” Markus mentioned in an announcement to the Committee posted on X on Monday.
The deposition got here because the US Division of Justice has launched tens of millions of inner paperwork associated to Epstein.
