Ghislaine Maxwell Declines to Answer House Committee Questions, Cites Fifth Amendment

Lawmakers tried to interview the former Epstein confidante, but she invoked her right against self-incrimination.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend and confidante of Jeffrey Epstein, declined to answer questions from a House committee on Monday, invoking her Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking and has been seeking to overturn her conviction.

Why it matters

Maxwell's refusal to testify is seen as a setback for lawmakers investigating Epstein's sex abuse network and how he was able to evade justice for years. Her testimony could have provided valuable insight into Epstein's activities and potential co-conspirators.

The details

The House Oversight Committee had subpoenaed Maxwell to testify via video call from the federal prison camp in Texas where she is incarcerated. However, her attorneys informed the committee that she would invoke her Fifth Amendment rights and not answer any questions that could be self-incriminating.

  • On Monday, February 9, 2026, the House Oversight Committee attempted to interview Ghislaine Maxwell.

The players

Ghislaine Maxwell

The former girlfriend and confidante of Jeffrey Epstein, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.

House Oversight Committee

A U.S. congressional committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein's sex abuse network and how he evaded justice for years.

James Comer

The Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee who insisted on conducting the deposition with Ghislaine Maxwell.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The House Oversight Committee may consider holding Ghislaine Maxwell in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify.

The takeaway

Ghislaine Maxwell's refusal to cooperate with the House Oversight Committee's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's sex abuse network is a setback for lawmakers seeking to uncover the full extent of the scandal and hold all responsible parties accountable.