Ghislaine Maxwell to testify earlier than Congress in Epstein probe

[ad_1] Ghislaine Maxwell, the jailed affiliate of convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein, has agreed to testify beneath oath earlier than the congressional committee investigating the federal authorities's dealing with of the Epstein information.

Committee chairman James Comer, who's main the investigation, says Maxwell will depose nearly on 9 February.

Maxwell's authorized staff has beforehand mentioned she would decline to reply questions beneath her constitutional proper to stay silent until she is granted authorized immunity.

Comer, previewing the deposition, mentioned, "her legal professionals have been saying she goes to plead the Fifth," referring to the US Fifth Modification proper to say no to talk to authorities.

The announcement from the Home Oversight and Authorities Reform Committee comes because the Trump administration continues to face fierce scrutiny for its dealing with of the Epstein case.

Maxwell is at present serving a 20-year jail sentence for recruiting and trafficking teenage ladies for sexual abuse by Epstein.

In July, the committee declined to supply Maxwell authorized immunity in change for her testimony.

In August, the committee issued authorized summons to Maxwell, requiring her to submit proof beneath oath.

Maxwell's authorized staff mentioned that requiring her to each testify from jail, and with none authorized immunity, had been "non-starters".

The legal professionals mentioned she "can't threat additional felony publicity in a politically charged atmosphere with out formal immunity" as talking from jail "creates actual safety dangers and undermines the integrity of the method".

Home lawmakers can't drive Maxwell to waive her Fifth Modification protections.

On Tuesday, Maxwell's authorized staff mentioned in a letter to the committee that she would proceed to refuse to testify.

"Put plainly, continuing beneath these circumstances would serve no different goal than pure political theater and a whole waste of taxpayer monies," the attorneys wrote. "The Committee would acquire no testimony, no solutions, and no new information."

Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021, had appealed in opposition to the conviction to the Supreme Courtroom final October however the prime court docket declined to listen to the previous British socialite's enchantment.

Her solely route to go away jail early can be a presidential pardon, until she is ready to persuade a federal decide in New York to vacate or amend her sentence. The White Home has denied that Trump is contemplating granting her clemency, nonetheless, Trump has additionally mentioned he has not dominated it out.

Individually, the Division of Justice confronted a deadline of 19 December final 12 months to launch all remaining Epstein information in its possession. Up to now solely a fraction of them have been made public.

The division has confronted criticism from lawmakers on either side of the aisle over the variety of redactions within the information, which the legislation permits solely to guard victims' identities and lively felony investigations.

In the meantime, the Republican-led Home Oversight Committee voted to carry former President Invoice Clinton and his spouse, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in contempt of Congress over their refusal to adjust to subpoenas in its Epstein investigation.

The committee had summoned each Clintons to testify about Epstein, with whom Invoice Clinton has appeared in pictures within the Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s.

Invoice Clinton has by no means been accused of wrongdoing by survivors of Epstein's abuse, and has denied information of his intercourse offending.

Legal professionals for the Clintons had known as the Oversight Committee subpoenas "unenforceable", and mentioned that they had already supplied the "restricted data" that they had about Epstein.

The committee authorised the measure with the help of a number of Democrats. If it passes the complete Home of Representatives, the matter will probably be referred to the justice division.