By STEPHEN GROVES
Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) – Ghislaine Maxwell, who was once involved with Jeffrey Epstein, chose not to respond to questions from House lawmakers during a deposition on Monday. However, she suggested that if President Donald Trump were to grant her clemency, she would be open to testifying that neither he nor former President Bill Clinton acted improperly in their ties with Epstein. The House Oversight Committee wanted Maxwell to participate in a video call from the federal prison camp in Texas where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. Instead, she invoked her Fifth Amendment rights to steer clear of self-incriminating answers. She has come under fresh scrutiny as lawmakers investigate how Epstein, a well-connected financier, managed to sexually exploit underage girls for many years. In the midst of growing awareness about Epstein’s abuse that has reached countries worldwide, lawmakers are looking for anyone connected to him who may have enabled his actions. So far, it’s been revealed that both Trump and Clinton spent time with Epstein during the 1990s and early 2000s, but there haven’t been any credible accusations against them. During the private deposition on Monday, an attorney representing Maxwell informed lawmakers that if Trump offered her clemency, she’d be willing to testify that neither Trump nor Clinton were guilty of any misconduct. Maxwell’s lawyer David Oscar Markus communicated this message to the committee by stating that “Maxwell is prepared to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency by President Trump.” He continued by asserting that both Trump and Clinton “are innocent of any wrongdoing,” but stressed that ”Ms. Maxwell alone can explain why, and the public is entitled to that explanation.” Democrats labeled this as a bold attempt by Maxwell to persuade Trump into ending her prison term. “It’s very clear she’s campaigning for clemency,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury, a Democrat from New Mexico. An additional Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, remarked on Maxwell’s behavior during the brief video call as being “robotic” and “unrepentant.” Trump hasn’t dismissed the possibility of granting Maxwell clemency; however, Republican resistance quickly grew after her appeal became public. “NO CLEMENCY. You comply or face punishment,” Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna posted on social media. “You deserve JUSTICE for what you did you monster.” Maxwell has also been trying to overturn her conviction, claiming it was unjustly decided. The Supreme Court turned down her appeal last year; however, in December she asked a federal judge in New York to review what her attorneys describe as “substantial new evidence” indicating constitutional violations tainted her trial. The attorney referenced this petition while explaining why she would invoke her Fifth Amendment rights. The committee’s Republican chairperson Rep. James Comer from Kentucky expressed disappointment at Maxwell’s refusal to engage in the deposition when speaking with reporters. Family members of Virginia Giuffre-one of Epstein’s most vocal victims-also sent a letter addressing Maxwell directly and made it clear they don’t see her as just an observer in Epstein’s abuse.
“You were a central, deliberate actor in a system built to find children, isolate them, groom them, and deliver them to abuse,” Sky and Amanda Roberts wrote in their letter directed at Maxwell. Last summer saw Maxwell moved from a federal prison in Florida into a low-security camp in Texas after participating in two days of interviews with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Drew had previously subpoenaed her then; however, her legal team continuously advised the committee she’d refrain from answering questions. Still pressured by his peers regarding holding depositions for Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after threatening contempt charges against them prompted both individuals agreeing to testify later this month. Drew had been negotiating with the Clintons about whether these testimonies should occur publicly; nonetheless he reiterated on Monday his insistence on conducting closed-door depositions followed by releasing transcripts and video footage afterward. This week several lawmakers also planned sessions aimed at reviewing unredacted versions of files concerning Epstein released by the Department of Justice following legislation passed last year aimed at compliance efforts.
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Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) – Ghislaine Maxwell, who was once involved with Jeffrey Epstein, chose not to respond to questions from House lawmakers during a deposition on Monday. However, she suggested that if President Donald Trump were to grant her clemency, she would be open to testifying that neither he nor former President Bill Clinton acted improperly in their ties with Epstein. The House Oversight Committee wanted Maxwell to participate in a video call from the federal prison camp in Texas where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. Instead, she invoked her Fifth Amendment rights to steer clear of self-incriminating answers. She has come under fresh scrutiny as lawmakers investigate how Epstein, a well-connected financier, managed to sexually exploit underage girls for many years. In the midst of growing awareness about Epstein’s abuse that has reached countries worldwide, lawmakers are looking for anyone connected to him who may have enabled his actions. So far, it’s been revealed that both Trump and Clinton spent time with Epstein during the 1990s and early 2000s, but there haven’t been any credible accusations against them. During the private deposition on Monday, an attorney representing Maxwell informed lawmakers that if Trump offered her clemency, she’d be willing to testify that neither Trump nor Clinton were guilty of any misconduct. Maxwell’s lawyer David Oscar Markus communicated this message to the committee by stating that “Maxwell is prepared to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency by President Trump.” He continued by asserting that both Trump and Clinton “are innocent of any wrongdoing,” but stressed that ”Ms. Maxwell alone can explain why, and the public is entitled to that explanation.” Democrats labeled this as a bold attempt by Maxwell to persuade Trump into ending her prison term. “It’s very clear she’s campaigning for clemency,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury, a Democrat from New Mexico. An additional Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, remarked on Maxwell’s behavior during the brief video call as being “robotic” and “unrepentant.” Trump hasn’t dismissed the possibility of granting Maxwell clemency; however, Republican resistance quickly grew after her appeal became public. “NO CLEMENCY. You comply or face punishment,” Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna posted on social media. “You deserve JUSTICE for what you did you monster.” Maxwell has also been trying to overturn her conviction, claiming it was unjustly decided. The Supreme Court turned down her appeal last year; however, in December she asked a federal judge in New York to review what her attorneys describe as “substantial new evidence” indicating constitutional violations tainted her trial. The attorney referenced this petition while explaining why she would invoke her Fifth Amendment rights. The committee’s Republican chairperson Rep. James Comer from Kentucky expressed disappointment at Maxwell’s refusal to engage in the deposition when speaking with reporters. Family members of Virginia Giuffre-one of Epstein’s most vocal victims-also sent a letter addressing Maxwell directly and made it clear they don’t see her as just an observer in Epstein’s abuse.
“You were a central, deliberate actor in a system built to find children, isolate them, groom them, and deliver them to abuse,” Sky and Amanda Roberts wrote in their letter directed at Maxwell. Last summer saw Maxwell moved from a federal prison in Florida into a low-security camp in Texas after participating in two days of interviews with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Drew had previously subpoenaed her then; however, her legal team continuously advised the committee she’d refrain from answering questions. Still pressured by his peers regarding holding depositions for Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after threatening contempt charges against them prompted both individuals agreeing to testify later this month. Drew had been negotiating with the Clintons about whether these testimonies should occur publicly; nonetheless he reiterated on Monday his insistence on conducting closed-door depositions followed by releasing transcripts and video footage afterward. This week several lawmakers also planned sessions aimed at reviewing unredacted versions of files concerning Epstein released by the Department of Justice following legislation passed last year aimed at compliance efforts.
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