Ghislaine Maxwell Invokes Fifth Amendment in Congressional Hearing, Offers to Cooperate If Trump Grants Clemency

WASHINGTON D.C. — Ghislaine Maxwell, the 64-year-old former girlfriend and associate of Jeffrey Epstein, appeared before the House Oversight Committee on Monday, Feb. 9, where she repeatedly invoked her Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. It is a move many legal experts expected, but her defense team quickly followed the silence with a high-stakes proposal aimed directly at the White House. Maxwell’s refusal to answer stems from her ongoing legal battle in the Southern District of New York. She specifically cited her pending habeas corpus petition as the reason for her silence. According to the transcript of the proceedings, Maxwell said she would like to answer questions but was acting on the advice of counsel. She repeated the phrase, "I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence," several times as lawmakers pressed for details regarding her relationship with the late Jeffrey Epstein. Shortly after the hearing, Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Marcus, took to social media to outline a potential path for her cooperation. He suggested that Maxwell is ready to provide a full account of her activities and the individuals involved, but only if President Donald Trump commutes her sentence. Marcus said the American public deserves the unfiltered truth, though he did not shy away from the political implications of his request. Part of the pitch includes clearing high-profile names. Marcus claimed that Maxwell possesses information that would exonerate both President Trump and former President Bill Clinton of any wrongdoing. According to Marcus, Miss Maxwell alone can explain why, and the public is entitled to that explanation. This creates a complex situation for the current administration, especially since Trump has not explicitly ruled out clemency for the convicted sex trafficker in past public statements. While the offer is on the table, Maxwell’s history remains a significant hurdle. She is a convicted co-conspirator who has previously faced perjury charges. Critics of the proposal argue her willingness to talk is less about the truth and more about a calculated attempt to leave prison. The political fallout of commuting a sentence for the only person currently held accountable for Epstein’s sex trafficking ring would likely be severe. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence at a federal correctional institution in Florida. The House Oversight Committee has not yet issued a formal response to the clemency proposal shared by her legal team. -------------------- At Cleveland 13 News, we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable reporting. If you spot an error, omission, or have information that may need updating, please email us at tips@cleveland13news.com. As a community-driven news network, we appreciate the help of our readers in ensuring the integrity of our reporting.