Maxwell refuses to answer questions about Epstein in congressional hearing

February 10, 2026

Ghislaine Maxwell invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a virtual deposition with the House Oversight Committee from her Texas prison, where she is serving 20 years for sex trafficking related to Jeffrey Epstein. Her lawyer indicated she would only speak fully if granted clemency by President Trump, though the White House has stated no leniency is being considered. Epstein survivors criticized Maxwell for refusing to identify powerful co-conspirators and warned against granting her any credibility or special treatment.

Who is affected

Ghislaine Maxwell (refused to answer questions, seeking clemency/pardon)
Epstein survivors (seeking justice and truth, concerned about Maxwell's credibility)
US House Oversight Committee members, specifically Chairman James Comer and Representatives Melanie Stansbury and Ro Khanna (unable to obtain testimony)
Jeffrey Epstein's unnamed co-conspirators (subject of potential investigation)
President Donald Trump (subject of planned questions regarding relationship with Epstein and potential pardon discussions)

What action is being taken

Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence in Texas prison
The US Department of Justice is releasing millions of pages of files from its Epstein investigation
Members of Congress are being allowed to view un-redacted versions of nearly three million pages in person at the Department of Justice starting Monday
The House Oversight Committee is conducting an investigation into Epstein's crimes and potential co-conspirators

Why it matters

This matters because Maxwell is the only convicted person with comprehensive knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking operation and the identities of powerful individuals potentially involved. Her refusal to cooperate prevents justice for survivors and accountability for possible co-conspirators. The case raises questions about whether influential people received protection from prosecution, making transparency and full disclosure critical for public trust. Maxwell's request for clemency creates concerns about potential deals that could compromise the pursuit of truth and justice for trafficking victims.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC