As of Monday, February 9, 2026, convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell has officially refused to answer substantive questions during her deposition before the House Oversight Committee.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Despite appearing via videolink from her federal prison in Texas, the “blanket refusal” has turned the long-awaited hearing into what some lawmakers are calling “political theater.”
The Stand-Off: Fifth Amendment & “Blanket” Refusals
Maxwell’s legal team informed the committee that she would invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination for all questions.
- The Strategy: Rather than answering question-by-question, Maxwell read a prepared statement and then declined further inquiry.
- The Immunity Factor: Her lawyers had previously conditioned her testimony on a pardon or legal immunity—requests the House committee flatly rejected.
- The Inconsistency: Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) called out the silence as a reversal, noting that Maxwell had recently been “open and honest” in private meetings with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche without invoking such privileges.
What Lawmakers Are Probing
Rep. Khanna made his intended questions public to ensure they entered the official record. The investigation targets the “unredacted” reality of the Epstein network:
| Category | Key Questions |
| The “25 Men” | The identities of the 25 individuals who allegedly entered secret settlements with Epstein to avoid prosecution. |
| Political Ties | Questions regarding any access provided to Donald Trump and discussions about a potential pardon in exchange for silence. |
| Intelligence | Alleged ties between Jeffrey Epstein and foreign intelligence services, specifically in Russia and Israel. |
| The Client List | Confirmation of the existence and location of the definitive “client lists” or records maintained by Epstein. |
Why This Matters Now
- Over 2 million documents previously hidden from public view.
- FBI Form 302 reports (victim interview statements).
- Internal DOJ memos from the 2007 Florida investigation.
“Congress cannot properly assess the Department’s handling of the Epstein and Maxwell cases without access to the complete record.” — Joint statement from Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie.
