Ghislaine Maxwell pleads the Fifth and refuses to answer questions before House panel

Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted former associate of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination on Monday during a virtual deposition before the House Oversight Committee. The federal inmate refused to answer questions from the congressional panel, which is currently investigating the Bureau of Prisons' handling of high-profile inmates following allegations of various abuses and mismanagement within the federal system. The session, conducted via video link from the Tallahassee prison where Maxwell is serving her sentence, was intended to provide lawmakers with firsthand testimony regarding the internal operations and safety protocols of federal correctional facilities. The decision to plead the Fifth comes as Maxwell continues to serve a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking and conspiracy. While the House Oversight Committee aimed to use her testimony to uncover systemic failures within the Department of Justice's prison oversight, Maxwell’s legal team had signaled her intent to remain silent to avoid any further legal jeopardy. This non-cooperation presents a significant hurdle for the bipartisan investigation, which was launched primarily in response to the high-profile suicide of Jeffrey Epstein and subsequent reports of staff shortages and security breaches at the Metropolitan Detention Center. Legal experts suggest that Maxwell’s refusal to testify is a strategic maneuver common among high-profile inmates who possess sensitive information but face ongoing litigation or potential additional charges. The House Oversight Committee has expressed frustration over the lack of transparency from key figures within the prison system, noting that without such testimony, it is difficult to implement legislative reforms aimed at increasing accountability. Despite this setback, the committee is expected to continue its probe by subpoenaing other officials and reviewing internal Department of Justice documents to address the broader crisis of safety and staffing within the U.S. federal prison network.