• Maxwell is set to invoke her Fifth Amendment rights during a House Oversight Committee deposition via video link from prison.
  • The deposition is part of a broader investigation into how the government handled the Epstein and Maxwell cases.
  • Maxwell's approach contrasts with her recent cooperation with the Justice Department, where she answered questions about other individuals.

Ghislaine Maxwell is scheduled for a House Oversight Committee deposition today, where she is expected to invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination rather than answer questions about her role in Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking operation. Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence at a minimum-security prison in Texas, will participate in the deposition via video link. Her attorney, David Oscar Markus, previously informed House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer that Maxwell would decline to answer questions to protect her ongoing appeals. However, Markus indicated this position could change if Maxwell were to receive clemency or a pardon.

The House Oversight Committee is investigating how the government handled the Epstein and Maxwell cases, with some lawmakers accusing officials of covering up information to protect high-profile individuals. Rep. Ro Khanna has pressed for clarity on specific topics Maxwell may address, including questions about her "four named co-conspirators," 25 men who reached secret settlements, whether Epstein provided President Trump access to underage girls, and foreign governments with which Epstein had relationships. Efforts to reach Maxwell's legal team for further comment on today's proceedings were unsuccessful as of press time.

Maxwell's approach at today's deposition contrasts with her recent cooperation with the Justice Department. After sitting for a two-day interview with DOJ officials where she answered questions about other individuals who may have committed crimes against Epstein's victims, Maxwell was transferred from a high-security prison in Florida to minimum-security housing in Texas. Her attorney previously stated she answered "every single question… honestly, truthfully, to the best of her ability" during those interviews. This shift raises questions about the strategic calculus behind her legal team's decision to now invoke the Fifth Amendment, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The deposition is part of a wider Epstein probe. Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are scheduled for depositions on February 26 and 27 after initially refusing Comer's subpoena. The House Oversight Committee has also released images from Epstein's estate showing Bill Clinton, President Donald Trump, Microsoft (MSFT) co-founder Bill Gates, political strategist Steve Bannon, and British investor Richard Branson. Without cooperation from key witnesses like Maxwell, the investigation could face significant hurdles in uncovering new evidence, potentially limiting its impact.

In a related development, the Justice Department recently released three million pages of documents from its Epstein investigation, including emails between Epstein, Maxwell, and third parties, following Congress's passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act last year. The DOJ has stated that no additional prosecutions are expected despite this release. As the deposition unfolds, observers are watching for any signs of deviation from the expected Fifth Amendment stance, which could signal a shift in Maxwell's legal strategy or broader implications for the ongoing congressional inquiry.