TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate and former girlfriend of the late Jeffrey Epstein, declined to answer questions before the United States House of Representatives committee on Monday, February 9, 2026. Maxwell indicated that she might testify but requested immunity in return.
Maxwell was convicted in 2021 for her role in aiding Epstein's sexual abuse of teenage girls. She invoked her Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination, said a member of the House Oversight Committee on Monday.
"This is obviously very disappointing," said Committee Chair, Representative James Comer of the Republican Party, as quoted from Al Jazeera. "We had many questions to ask about the crimes she and Epstein committed, as well as questions about potential co-conspirators."
Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking at a federal camp in Texas. She was summoned to appear before the committee to discuss her relationship with Epstein, but her attorney stated that she would only testify if President Donald Trump granted her immunity.
A video from the closed-door deposition showed Maxwell, wearing a brown shirt, being escorted from prison and seated at a conference table with a bottle of water. She repeatedly stated that she was invoking her Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.
Maxwell's attorney, David Oscar Markus, stated in a letter to the committee that Maxwell is prepared to fully and truthfully talk if granted immunity by President Donald Trump. Markus emphasized that neither Trump nor former President Bill Clinton is guilty of any wrongdoing, but only Ms. Maxwell can elaborate on the reasons. "The public is entitled to that explanation," he said.
The testimony coincides with the release of millions of internal Justice Department documents related to Epstein. The files show that Trump and Clinton spent time with the sexual offender in the 1990s and early 2000s. However, Trump and Clinton have not been accused of any wrongdoing. Clinton and his wife, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, are scheduled to testify in court later this month.
Democratic lawmakers, including James Walkinshaw, stated that Maxwell is seeking a pardon from Trump. "President Trump could end that today. He could rule out clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell, the monster; he could rule out a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell," said Walkinshaw. "The question for all of us today is, why hasn't he done that? And why won't he do that?" as quoted from Anadolu.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett stated that the Democratic Party will continue their investigation despite Maxwell's refusal to cooperate. "We will not be deterred. We will not be distracted. We know who it is that needs to be held accountable," said Crockett. "This will not stop us…Miss Maxwell, we're not done. We're going to continue to go."
Rep. Melanie Stansbury accused U.S. authorities of suppressing accountability. "There are now at least nine or 10 other countries across the world that have opened investigations…and the U.S. government is engaged in an active cover-up of the largest sex trafficking scandal and influence peddling scandal in the history of the United States, and Donald Trump is right at the center of it," she said.
In line with her colleagues, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam stated that Maxwell's refusal to testify sends a clear message. "It is very clear that she used this opportunity to not only campaign for clemency…but also to send a direct message…which is that her silence can be bought through clemency," he said. Maxwell is a central figure in the Epstein abuse case.
Read: Epstein Files Reveal 1,249 Liters of Sulfuric Acid Purchase
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