Точка Синхронізації

Ghislaine Maxwell, the former British socialite and associate of Jeffrey Epstein, invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination to avoid answering questions during a virtual testimony before the U.S. House Oversight and Accountability Committee on Wednesday. Speaking from a federal prison in Florida where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, Maxwell appeared via video link as part of a congressional inquiry into the Bureau of Prisons' handling of high-profile inmates and the circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death. Lawmakers had called for the deposition to clarify internal security failures and potential oversight lapses within the federal justice system. Despite the committee's efforts to extract information regarding her interactions with prison officials and her knowledge of Epstein’s illicit network, Maxwell remained largely silent under the protection of the U.S. Constitution. This legal maneuver effectively shielded her from providing testimony that could potentially be used against her in future legal proceedings or appeals related to her 2021 conviction. Congressional investigators expressed frustration at the lack of cooperation, noting that her refusal hampers the legislative branch's ability to reform a prison system that has been under intense scrutiny since Epstein’s 2019 suicide in a Manhattan lockup. The proceedings highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the House Oversight Committee as it attempts to piece together the systemic failures of the Department of Justice. While Maxwell’s conviction was a significant milestone for the victims of the Epstein ring, her continued silence serves as a barrier to fully understanding the depth of the corruption and the security breaches that allowed Epstein to die before facing trial. Journalists and legal experts suggest that this standoff underscores the limitations of congressional subpoenas when witnesses choose to exercise their constitutional rights during active incarceration.