WASHINGTON: US Democrats lawmakers on Monday accused Ghislaine Maxwell, the former associate of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, of refusing to testify before Congress as part of a campaign to seek clemency from former President Donald Trump.
Read More: New Epstein releases turn up more emails about Trump
Maxwell appeared before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform but repeatedly invoked her Fifth Amendment rights, declining to answer any questions during the deposition. The amendment allows individuals to refuse testimony that could be used against them in criminal proceedings.
Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. James Walkinshaw, told reporters that Maxwell’s appearance amounted to “another episode in her long-running campaign for clemency from President Trump.” Walkinshaw criticised Trump for not ruling out a pardon for Maxwell, asking, “Why hasn’t he done that? And why won’t he do that?”
“Is Donald Trump guilty of trafficking women and girls?” Ghislaine Maxwell refused to exonerate Donald Trump, and took the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination for every question. Why? Because Maxwell wants a pardon from President Trump. He won’t rule it out. pic.twitter.com/RCsm7WWYdy
— Reverend Richard Cizik (@Cizmik_Change) February 10, 2026
Rep. Jasmine Crockett emphasised that Maxwell’s refusal would not halt the investigation, stating, “We will not be deterred. We will not be distracted…Miss Maxwell, we’re not done. We’re going to continue to go.” Rep. Melanie Stansbury accused US authorities of suppressing accountability, highlighting that several countries are investigating the Epstein case while alleging an active cover-up in the United States with Trump “right at the center of it.”
Rep. Suhas Subramanyam said Maxwell’s silence sent a “clear message…that her silence can be bought through clemency,” framing her testimony as an attempt to influence potential presidential pardons.
Maxwell, a central figure in the Epstein case, was convicted in 2022 of sex trafficking and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Epstein died by suicide in a New York City jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Read More: Ghislaine Maxwell to be questioned by US Congress via video .
The Justice Department recently released over three million pages, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images related to Epstein under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law in November. The materials include photographs, grand jury transcripts, and investigative records, although many pages remain heavily redacted.