Maxwell STONEWALLS Congress — Demands Presidential Pardon

Ghislaine Maxwell invoked her Fifth Amendment right before Congress while demanding presidential clemency in exchange for testimony about Jeffrey Epstein’s elite network, leaving survivors and lawmakers frustrated as the investigation into one of the most notorious sex trafficking operations in American history continues.

Story Snapshot

Maxwell refused to testify during a February 9, 2026 virtual deposition with the House Oversight Committee, repeatedly invoking her Fifth Amendment rights from a Texas prison
Her attorney demanded clemency from President Trump as a precondition for providing a “complete account” of Epstein’s operation, despite Maxwell serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking
Republicans released the full deposition video publicly, showing Maxwell’s attorney cleared both Trump and Clinton of witnessing crimes during a previous proffer session
Committee Chair James Comer announced five additional depositions scheduled through March, including billionaire Leslie Wexner and both Bill and Hillary Clinton

Maxwell Stonewalls Congressional Investigation From Prison

Ghislaine Maxwell appeared virtually before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on February 9, 2026, from a minimum-security federal prison in Texas where she has been incarcerated since August 2024. Throughout the closed-door session, Maxwell invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in response to questions about Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking network. Her attorney, David Oscar Markus, read a prepared statement emphasizing his client’s “unique insight” into the operation while making clear that full cooperation hinged entirely on receiving presidential clemency. This constitutional protection, while legitimate, denies justice to survivors who have waited years for answers about the powerful figures connected to Epstein’s crimes.

Clemency Demand Sparks Bipartisan Pushback

Maxwell’s January 21, 2026 letter requesting a deposition delay or clemency generated sharp criticism across party lines. Committee Chairman James Comer expressed disappointment that Maxwell “chose to invoke her Fifth Amendment right” but emphasized the investigation would proceed with justice for survivors as the priority. Democrat Representative Jasmine Crockett characterized Maxwell as showing no remorse while exploiting legal protections. The clemency demand places President Trump in a politically precarious position, as any consideration of leniency for a convicted sex trafficker would undermine his administration’s commitment to law and order. Survivors previously met with lawmakers to explicitly reject any immunity deals, making clear their demand for full accountability without political bargaining.

Upcoming Depositions Target High-Profile Associates

The House Oversight Committee scheduled five additional depositions following Maxwell’s refusal to cooperate. Billionaire retail magnate Leslie Wexner, Epstein’s former client and financial patron, faces questioning on February 18. Hillary Clinton is scheduled for February 26, followed by Bill Clinton on February 27. Epstein’s accountant and lawyer will appear in March. This aggressive schedule demonstrates congressional determination to expose the full scope of Epstein’s network despite Maxwell’s obstruction. Lawmakers also gained access to unredacted Epstein files at the Department of Justice on February 9, providing crucial documentary evidence that may corroborate or contradict witness testimony. The bipartisan push for transparency, led by Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, reflects growing public frustration with elite impunity.

Constitutional Rights Versus Justice for Victims

Maxwell’s invocation of Fifth Amendment protections highlights the tension between constitutional rights and the public’s demand for transparency about powerful figures connected to heinous crimes. While the Fifth Amendment rightfully protects citizens from self-incrimination, Maxwell’s strategic use of this protection while simultaneously demanding clemency appears calculated to leverage information for personal benefit rather than serve justice. Her attorney’s statement during a July 2025 proffer session with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reportedly cleared both Trump and Clinton of witnessing crimes, information Republican Representative Andy Biggs highlighted publicly. This selective disclosure pattern suggests Maxwell possesses information she is willing to weaponize politically while shielding herself from accountability, a manipulation that undermines both the investigation and respect for constitutional protections.

The Maxwell deposition represents a critical juncture in America’s reckoning with elite corruption and sex trafficking. Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 death by suicide in federal custody denied justice through criminal prosecution of the network’s architect. Maxwell’s 2021 conviction provided some accountability, but her refusal to expose the full network protects potentially complicit powerful figures. The House Oversight Committee’s persistence, combined with public video release and systematic depositions of associates, demonstrates how congressional oversight can serve justice when executive and judicial processes fall short. Survivors of Epstein’s trafficking operation deserve complete transparency, not political calculations. The scheduled depositions of the Clintons, Wexner, and Epstein’s professional advisors offer remaining opportunities to pierce the veil of secrecy, but only if witnesses choose truth over self-preservation and lawmakers resist any clemency deals that would reward obstruction.