The United States Congress is set to question convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell over her connections to late financier Jeffrey Epstein and his network of influential associates.
Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for trafficking underage girls for Epstein, will testify via videolink from prison in a closed-door deposition before the House of Representatives’ Oversight Committee.
The Republican-led panel is investigating Epstein’s links to powerful political and business figures and examining how information about his crimes was handled.
However, Maxwell is expected to invoke her constitutional right against self-incrimination.
“Proceeding under these circumstances would serve no other purpose than pure political theater,” her lawyers said, after lawmakers declined a request to grant her immunity.
Without legal protection, her legal team indicated she would rely on the Fifth Amendment and decline to answer questions.
Although the deposition will take place privately, Democratic lawmaker Ro Khanna has already released a list of questions he intends to ask. These include inquiries about alleged co-conspirators and other individuals said to have been linked to Epstein’s activities.
Some of the questions also touch on the relationships Epstein and Maxwell maintained with prominent public figures, as scrutiny over the scandal continues.
Epstein, who had extensive ties to wealthy and influential individuals, died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. His case has remained politically sensitive, with past disclosures triggering resignations and public controversy.
The Oversight Committee is also expected to seek testimony from former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who have requested that their depositions be held publicly to avoid political misinterpretation.
The inquiry forms part of ongoing congressional efforts to uncover the full scope of Epstein’s network and determine whether further accountability is warranted.
