Congressional panel declines Ghislaine Maxwell's offer of testimony in return for immunity from prosecution
In a recent development, Ghislaine Maxwell's legal team has outlined conditions for her potential testimony to the House Oversight Committee, but the committee has refused to grant immunity, stating it will not consider such a move.
Maxwell's lawyers, in a letter addressed to Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, have proposed several conditions for her potential cooperation. These conditions include the granting of congressional immunity or a pardon/clemency, pre-approval of the questions to be asked, and improvements to the security and setting for the deposition to protect Maxwell from further criminal exposure.
The committee, led by GOP Chairman James Comer, has rejected Maxwell's immunity request and has stated that it will not consider granting congressional immunity for Maxwell's testimony. This decision comes after Maxwell's lawyers made it a condition for her cooperation.
If Maxwell does not receive immunity, her lawyers have indicated that she will invoke her Fifth Amendment rights and decline to testify. Maxwell's legal team has also raised concerns about the security risks and potential leaks associated with a prison setting for a deposition.
This development comes as Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2021 on federal sex trafficking charges. The Trump administration has faced increased scrutiny over its handling of files related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Maxwell met privately with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche last week for about nine hours over two days. The Oversight Committee subpoenaed Maxwell last week for a deposition from prison to take place on Aug. 11, but Maxwell's lawyers have not asked for the deposition to take place before this date.
In addition to requesting immunity, Maxwell's lawyers have asked the committee to provide questions in advance and wait to schedule an appearance until after the Supreme Court decides on Maxwell's request to overturn her conviction. The lawyers have also stated that they would like the committee to be amenable to these conditions or Maxwell will invoke her Fifth Amendment rights.
The House Oversight Committee's decision not to grant immunity to Maxwell is a significant turn of events in the ongoing investigation into her role in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. The committee's refusal to grant immunity, along with Maxwell's lawyers' insistence on additional procedural demands, suggests that Maxwell's testimony may not be forthcoming without further negotiations.
Maxwell's legal team has proposed conditions for her potential cooperation in the House Oversight Committee, including the granting of congressional immunity or a pardon/clemency, pre-approval of questions, and improved security for the deposition. The committee has refused to grant immunity, leading Maxwell's lawyers to suggest that she may invoke her Fifth Amendment rights and decline to testify.
