Convicted teenager involved in sex trafficking, Ghislaine Maxwell, is set to testify before a US congressional committee next month. Maxwell, a British former socialite and associate of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, is currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for sex trafficking. She will opt to remain silent during her virtual appearance before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on February 9, citing her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
According to Committee chairman James Comer, Maxwell’s legal team has informed that she intends to plead the Fifth Amendment. Despite mounting pressure from Democrats to charge Maxwell with contempt of Congress, Comer expressed the necessity to hear Maxwell’s testimony and efforts to depose her.
Maxwell, the former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein, is facing scrutiny over the delayed release of Epstein-related documents, along with US Attorney General Pam Bondi. Despite her daughter’s statement of compliance with the subpoena, Maxwell’s lawyer indicated she plans to invoke her right to remain silent during the testimony, labeling the proceedings as political theater and a waste of taxpayer money.
There is uncertainty regarding whether Maxwell will comply with the subpoena on February 9, as she could potentially choose to ignore it altogether. The committee had initially served her with a subpoena in July 2025, but immunity was not offered in exchange for her testimony.
In addition, during a committee meeting, Comer announced the scheduling of Maxwell’s deposition and the advancement of contempt of Congress resolutions against former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton. The Clintons have contested the subpoenas, arguing they lack legislative purpose and have engaged in negotiations with Comer through their legal representatives.
Representative Robert Garcia, a ranking Democratic committee member, criticized the US Department of Justice for its handling of Maxwell’s case, accusing them of providing her with special treatment. Maxwell’s conviction appeal to the US Supreme Court was declined in October, further complicating the legal proceedings.
The Oversight Committee’s investigation into Epstein’s network and the management of related records by the government has drawn attention to the US Justice Department’s failure to fully disclose Epstein-related documents. Only a fraction of the documents, permitted to be withheld under US law for specific reasons, has been made public.
The developments surrounding Maxwell’s upcoming testimony and the ongoing scrutiny of the Justice Department underscore the complexity of the case and the legal challenges faced by all parties involved.