Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein, has proposed to testify before Congress under specific conditions, including granting her immunity. This offer was communicated to the House Oversight Committee by her legal team after she initially chose to invoke her Fifth Amendment rights. In their correspondence, Maxwell’s attorneys expressed a willingness to cooperate if a secure and equitable framework could be established.
Maxwell is currently appealing her conviction at the Supreme Court, and her lawyers warned that any testimonial input now might threaten her constitutional rights, adversely impact her legal challenges, and potentially bias a future jury. The letter further expressed concern over statements from some Congress members who have seemingly prejudged Maxwell’s credibility without fully considering the available evidence.
In response, a spokeswoman for the Oversight Committee dismissed the idea of granting her immunity for her testimony. House Oversight Chair James Comer remarked that granting immunity to someone implicated in child sex trafficking would not be supported by the Republican majority.
Maxwell’s attorneys outlined her prerequisites for testifying, which include: formal immunity, an interview location outside her current prison, advanced notification of the questions to prepare effectively, and scheduling the meeting only after her Supreme Court petition and a related habeas petition have been resolved.
Democratic Representative Robert Garcia emphasised that the Committee would not acquiesce to Maxwell’s demands, particularly about receiving questions in advance.
Maxwell’s legal team noted that if their conditions are unmet, she would be compelled to invoke her Fifth Amendment rights again. They also indicated that she would be open to testifying freely and candidly before Congress if granted clemency, asserting her desire to clarify misconceptions surrounding her case.
The Supreme Court is unlikely to address her petition until October, following its summer recess.