House Oversight Committee schedules Ghislaine Maxwell's deposition amid Epstein investigation

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The House Oversight Committee will depose Ghislaine Maxwell on February 9 as part of its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

Committee Chairman James Comer announced on Wednesday, January 21, that the deposition would take place during a contentious meeting on whether to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress. 

Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for offenses related to Epstein, is expected to testify remotely. Her attorneys have indicated that she will not answer questions.

Oversight panel schedules Ghislaine Maxwell's deposition

Comer said the committee planned to move forward with Maxwell’s deposition despite her legal team’s position that she would invoke her Fifth Amendment rights. “Her lawyers have made it clear she intends to plead the Fifth,” Comer said.

In a letter sent to Comer on Tuesday, Maxwell’s attorney, David Markus, said that her post-conviction legal efforts remained ongoing.

“Her habeas petition is pending and is being actively litigated,” Markus wrote. He said Maxwell would invoke her “privilege against self-incrimination and decline to answer questions,” describing the move as “a legal necessity” rather than a strategic decision.

“Testimony under oath while a habeas petition is pending would risk irreparable prejudice to her constitutional claims and expose her to further criminal jeopardy,” Markus added.

The committee had previously considered deposing Maxwell last year but abandoned the effort after her lawyers signaled that she would not answer questions. 

At the time, Comer said proceeding would be a waste of time and resources. It remains unclear what prompted the committee to revive plans for the deposition.

The announcement came as House Oversight members debated whether to hold Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress for allegedly defying subpoenas connected to the panel’s Epstein investigation. 

Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of offenses tied to Epstein and sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. She is currently incarcerated at a minimum-security prison in Texas after being transferred from Florida last summer. 

Court rejects special master request as lawmakers push DOJ over Epstein files 

The deposition plans followed renewed scrutiny of the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein-related documents.

On Wednesday, US District Judge Paul Engelmayer rejected a request from Reps Thomas Massie, R-Ky, and Ro Khanna, D-Calif, to appoint a special master to oversee the release of records under the 'Epstein Files Transparency Act'.

Engelmayer said that he lacked the authority to appoint an overseer for the disclosures, even as he acknowledged concerns raised by lawmakers and victims.

“The questions raised by the Representatives and the victims are undeniably important and timely,” the judge wrote. However, he concluded their “request for relief cannot be granted in this case.”

Rep Summer Lee, D-Pa, proposed an amendment to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt of Congress for failing to release all Epstein-related records by the December 19 deadline mandated by law.

“I would like to really emphasize that 1% of the files is insulting. It’s insulting,” Lee said. Comer noted that Bondi is scheduled to appear before the Judiciary Committee next month, where Lee is a member.