Ghislaine Maxwell Seeks Clemency, Invokes Fifth Amendment in House Deposition

Ghislaine Maxwell, incarcerated on federal sex-trafficking charges and a longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, refused Monday to respond to questions during a House Oversight Committee deposition. Committee Chairman James R. Comer, R-Ky., stated Maxwell—who appeared remotely from a Texas prison—cited the Fifth Amendment in answer to every inquiry.

In an opening statement, Maxwell’s lawyer, David Oscar Markus, indicated she would cooperate if granted clemency by President Donald Trump, according to media reports. Democrats on the committee criticized this bid for a pardon, arguing President Trump’s openness to it has hindered their investigation. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., remarked, "She is campaigning over and over again to get that pardon from President Trump, and this president has not ruled it out. And so that is why she is continuing to not cooperate with our investigation."

Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite and former associate of financier Jeffrey Epstein, was a prominent figure in elite social circles before U.S. prosecutors charged her with helping Epstein recruit, groom, and traffic underage girls for sexual abuse. In 2021, she was convicted on multiple federal sex trafficking-related charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison, currently serving at Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas.

What is clemency?

Clemency refers to the authority of the president or a state governor to forgive a crime through a pardon or to reduce a criminal sentence, embodying mercy or leniency.

Why is Ghislaine Maxwell asking for clemency?

Maxwell’s primary appeals to the Supreme Court were denied in October 2025, upholding her 20-year conviction. In December 2025, she filed a habeas corpus petition citing newly discovered evidence and alleged constitutional violations during her trial. She has also sought presidential clemency, potentially offering to testify about Epstein’s associates in exchange for a pardon or sentence reduction.

Ghislaine Maxwell invoked her Constitutional right to silence this morning before @RepJamesComer and the House Oversight Committee. Here is the statement I gave to the Committee explaining why:

Members of the Committee:

On my advice, Ghislaine Maxwell will respectfully invoke…

— David Oscar Markus (@domarkus) February 9, 2026

What is the Fifth Amendment?

The Fifth Amendment establishes protections in criminal and civil proceedings, including the right to a grand jury, protection against double jeopardy, and shielding from self-incrimination. It also ensures due process before deprivation of life, liberty, or property and requires compensation for private property taken for public use.