Ghislaine Maxwell plans to invoke her Fifth Amendment right and refuse substantive questions at a House Oversight deposition, Rep. Ro Khanna said in a letter. Maxwell, convicted in 2021 for assisting Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of minors, reportedly will read a prepared statement rather than answer individual inquiries. Khanna said the move appears inconsistent with a prior meeting in which Maxwell did not assert the Fifth, and the deposition coincides with the DOJ's release of millions of Epstein-related documents.
Ghislaine Maxwell To Invoke Fifth, Refuse Substantive Answers At House Oversight Deposition, Lawmaker Says
FILE PHOTO: Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein are seen in this image released by the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., U.S., on December 19, 2025 as part of a new trove of documents from its investigations into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. Justice Department/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
Feb. 8 (Reuters) - Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted associate of Jeffrey Epstein, plans to refuse substantive questions at a deposition before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform by invoking her Fifth Amendment right, U.S. Representative Ro Khanna said in a letter to committee chair Representative James Comer.
Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 for her role in helping Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls and is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence, reportedly intends to decline to answer all substantive inquiries and will instead read a prepared statement at the start of the deposition, according to Khanna's letter. Khanna did not specify the source of his information.
What Khanna Asked
In the letter, Khanna — a Democrat from California who sits on the committee — said Maxwell's anticipated refusal to testify appears inconsistent with her prior behavior. He noted that Maxwell did not invoke the Fifth Amendment during a previous meeting with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, when she discussed substantially similar topics, and asked the committee chair for clarification.
“This position appears inconsistent with Ms. Maxwell’s prior conduct,” Khanna wrote.
Context And Next Steps
The deposition comes as the U.S. Department of Justice has released millions of internal documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday.
The decision to invoke the Fifth could limit what lawmakers learn from the deposition, while a prepared statement may shape the public record without subjecting Maxwell to follow-up questioning. The committee chair will determine how the testimony proceeds and whether additional steps are warranted.
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