Ghislaine Maxwell won’t answer questions during congressional deposition: What the fifth amendment means?

Ghislaine Maxwell won't answer questions during congressional deposition

• Ghislaine Maxwell to testify via video before House committee, will plead the Fifth
• Maxwell will refuse to answer questions, citing her Fifth Amendment rights
• Bill and Hillary Clinton will testify in closed-door hearings later this month

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Ghislaine Maxwell, the jailed associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, is set to appear via video link before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Monday.

Maxwell, 64, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epstein’s sexual abuse of teenage girls. Her lawyers have confirmed she will refuse to answer questions, citing her Fifth Amendment rights.

“This is not a negotiating position or a tactical choice, it is a legal necessity … Put plainly, proceeding under these circumstances would serve no other purpose than pure political theatre and a complete waste of taxpayer monies,” Maxwell’s attorney, David Markus, wrote to committee chair James Comer in January.

What is the fifth amendment?

The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution allows individuals to refuse to answer questions that may incriminate themselves. Maxwell’s legal team has stated she will invoke this right to decline answering all substantive questions during her deposition.

Committee members, however, are determined to proceed. “I hope she changes her mind because I want to hear from her,” said Comer.

Republican committee member Nancy Mace said, “When a convicted sex trafficker pleads the Fifth it isn’t about self-incrimination any more, it’s self-preservation and not wanting to cross the rich and powerful people she trafficked these children to. The American people deserve to know their names. They deserve to be investigated. And they should rot in jail.”

Democrat Melanie Stansbury added, “We have a lot of questions for her … Unfortunately, we have been notified by her attorneys that she plans to plead a blanket Fifth plea across the deposition and so that means that she is going to refuse to answer any questions.”

Maxwell’s legal argument

Maxwell’s lawyers argue that she should not testify because she has filed a habeas petition challenging her conviction, claiming she did not receive a fair trial. The committee has pressed forward despite this appeal, citing public interest in investigating Epstein and his network.

According to U.S. Representative Ro Khanna, Maxwell plans to read a prepared statement at the start of her deposition rather than answer individual questions. “This position appears inconsistent with Ms. Maxwell’s prior conduct, as she did not invoke the Fifth Amendment when she previously met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to discuss substantially similar subject matter,” Khanna wrote in a letter to Comer.

Clintons’ involvement

The committee has also issued subpoenas to Bill and Hillary Clinton, who initially resisted appearing. Both have now agreed to closed-door hearings later this month, though they argue the proceedings should be public.

Bill Clinton stated on X, “I will not sit idly as they use me as a prop in a closed-door kangaroo court by a Republican Party running scared. If they want answers, let’s stop the games & do this the right way: in a public hearing, where the American people can see for themselves what this is really about.”

Hillary Clinton added, “You love to talk about transparency. There’s nothing more transparent than a public hearing, cameras on.”

Comer criticised the Clintons for delaying compliance: “Once it became clear that the House of Representatives would hold them in contempt, the Clintons completely caved and will appear for transcribed, filmed depositions this month. We look forward to questioning the Clintons as part of our investigation into the horrific crimes of Epstein and Maxwell, to deliver transparency and accountability for the American people and for survivors.”

The committee plans to question Hillary Clinton on February 26 and Bill Clinton on February 27, with Comer promising that videos of their testimony will be released.