House Oversight Committee Unlikely to Interview Ghislaine Maxwell in Epstein Probe
House Oversight Chair James Comer indicates Ghislaine Maxwell is unlikely to be interviewed by the committee in the Epstein investigation, expecting her to plead the Fifth Amendment.
Overview
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer stated it is improbable that he or his staff will interview Ghislaine Maxwell concerning the ongoing Epstein investigation.
Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year federal sex trafficking sentence, is expected to plead the Fifth Amendment if questioned by the committee.
The House committee faces challenges in interviewing Maxwell in Texas, partly due to her lawyer's refusal to cooperate and potential travel expenses.
A subpoena was issued to Ghislaine Maxwell in July for her testimony, but the committee anticipates she will invoke her Fifth Amendment rights.
The unlikelihood of an interview stems from Maxwell's legal strategy to avoid self-incrimination, hindering the committee's direct questioning in the Epstein probe.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present a neutral account of the House Oversight Committee's decision regarding Ghislaine Maxwell. They focus on factual reporting of events and statements, attributing all opinions and accusations directly to their sources. The coverage avoids loaded language or selective emphasis, providing context without editorializing on the committee's actions or the individuals involved.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Ghislaine Maxwell is expected to plead the Fifth Amendment because her legal team has stated she will not answer questions without immunity or a pardon, as any testimony could potentially incriminate her in future legal proceedings.
Maxwell's legal team requested immunity from further criminal proceedings and the ability to receive questions in advance, both of which were rejected by the House Oversight Committee.
The committee is seeking Maxwell's testimony to inform potential legislative solutions to improve federal efforts to combat sex trafficking and reform the use of non-prosecution and plea agreements in sex-crime investigations.
Maxwell recently sat for a two-day interview with the Justice Department, after which she was transferred to a minimum security facility, but she has not cooperated with the House Oversight Committee's subpoena.
The Supreme Court recently rejected Maxwell's request to revisit her conviction, and her legal team has indicated that her ongoing appeals are now resolved.
History
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