Ghislaine Maxwell won’t answer questions during congressional deposition, lawmaker says

Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker and former associate of Jeffrey Epstein, refused to answer substantive questions during a rare congressional deposition conducted by U.S. lawmakers at a federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida, on Friday. The remote testimony, overseen by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, was intended to investigate the inner workings of Epstein’s operation and potential labor trafficking violations involving minors. However, Representative Debbie Lesko reported that Maxwell invoked her Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination throughout the session, effectively stonewalling the committee's attempt to gain new insights into the decade-long criminal enterprise. The deposition represents a significant effort by Congress to bring accountability to the high-profile case that has spanned years of legal battles and public scrutiny. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence following her 2021 conviction on multiple counts, including the sex trafficking of a minor. Lawmakers had hoped that under oath, Maxwell might provide specific details regarding the logistical and financial support systems that allowed Epstein to exploit young women across various international jurisdictions for nearly two decades. Despite the lack of cooperation, the committee's move into a correctional facility underscores the ongoing legislative interest in human trafficking and the failures of the justice system to protect vulnerable populations. Members of the House committee expressed frustration after the meeting, noting that while Maxwell appeared via video link, she remained steadfast in her refusal to provide any testimony that could lead to further legal exposure. The silence from one of the most central figures in the Epstein saga leaves many questions regarding the involvement of other high-profile individuals unanswered as federal investigations continue to loom in the background.