Ghislaine Maxwell will invoke the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer questions when she appears by video before the House Oversight Committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein. Her brother says she lacks computer access and has only seen a small portion of the millions of pages released from the Epstein files, creating a risk of perjury if she testifies. Maxwell previously alleged that 29 associates were shielded by the US government and sought legal immunity for her testimony; denied immunity, her lawyers called the deposition "political theatre."
Ghislaine Maxwell Will Plead the Fifth in Congressional Deposition After New Epstein File Releases
Ian Maxwell said his sister would be ‘unbearably handicapped’ at the hearing because ‘she has not had access to a computer’
Ghislaine Maxwell will invoke her Fifth Amendment right and decline to answer questions when she appears by video link from a Texas prison before the House Oversight Committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein.
Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, was scheduled to give a closed-door deposition on Monday but her legal team confirmed she will remain silent to avoid risking self-incrimination. Her brother, Ian Maxwell, said recent public releases from the Epstein files have exposed her to potential perjury risk if she attempted to testify without full access to the underlying documents.
Ghislaine Maxwell with her father Robert and brother Ian, right, in 1990 - AGIP
Limited Access to Records
Ian Maxwell told reporters that his sister "has not had access to a computer since 2020," and that a court request for computer access submitted in December had produced no response. He said Maxwell has only seen a small fraction of the millions of pages released in waves to the public and cannot safely anticipate what questions might arise from those disclosures.
Files, Allegations and Immunity Requests
On 30 January the Justice Department released roughly three million additional documents from the Epstein case, material that has intensified scrutiny of Epstein's network and prompted political fallout on both sides of the Atlantic. Maxwell has previously filed court papers alleging that 29 associates and friends of Epstein were shielded from prosecution through "secret settlements," naming four alleged co-conspirators and referring to 25 other men who she said avoided charges.
Maxwell claimed that 29 Epstein associates and friends were shielded by the US government through ‘secret settlements’ - AFP
Earlier she petitioned Congress for legal immunity so she could testify without fear of prosecution; when immunity was denied, her lawyers called the deposition "pure political theatre" and said it would produce no new facts. Maxwell's team argued the committee would obtain "no testimony, no answers, and no new facts" if she were compelled to appear without protections.
Scope of the Investigation
The House Oversight Committee is probing Epstein's activities and how the Justice Department handled documents related to his case. Recent releases included photographs and messages that have prompted fresh inquiries, including material involving UK public figures. The committee cannot compel testimony from non-US citizens, a limitation that allowed Prince Andrew (Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor) to decline a congressional invitation in November. Sources say Lord Mandelson, who is reportedly the subject of a police inquiry in the UK, may also be asked to testify.
Ian Maxwell described his sister's situation as a "denial of basic justice," accusing the US government of trying to "cover its embarrassment" following Epstein's 2019 death in custody. Maxwell's lawyers say she will exercise her constitutional right to remain silent rather than risk self-incrimination.
What Comes Next
The closed-door deposition will proceed with Maxwell invoking the Fifth, according to her team. The House Oversight Committee continues to review the newly released documents and pursue testimony from other witnesses, while public and legal scrutiny of Epstein's network remains intense.
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