Gillian Maxwell, a longtime associate of convicted sex offender, the late Jeffrey Epstein, has refused to answer questions from the US House of Representatives Oversight Committee.
She invoked her rights under the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution to avoid answering questions that could compromise her.
The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides key protections to individuals in legal proceedings, including for serious crimes, protection against double jeopardy, and the right to protection against self-incrimination (“right to remain silent”).
Maxwell was scheduled to be questioned via video call from a federal prison in Texas, where she is serving a 20-year sentence for human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
She is again under scrutiny by lawmakers who are trying to investigate how Epstein, a financier with numerous connections to powerful people, was able to sexually abuse underage girls for years.
Maxwell is trying to have her conviction overturned, claiming she was wrongfully convicted.
Deputies are trying to identify all the people who were associated with Epstein and may have assisted him in his sexual abuse.
In addition, several Democrats planned to review unredacted versions of the Epstein documents, which the Justice Department released due to legislation passed by Congress last year.
The House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena for Maxwell last year. Although her lawyers consistently informed lawmakers that she would not answer questions, the committee's Republican chairman, Rep. James Comer, insisted on it.
At the same time, he asked the committee to call for hearings former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who also appear in the released documents.
After Komer threatened them with contempt of Congress charges, they both agreed to appear at hearings later this month.
Bill Clinton knew Epstein, who died in prison in 2019, but denied any knowledge of his sexual offenses and claims to have cut off contact with him two decades ago.
It will be the first time a former US president has testified before a congressional committee since Gerald Ford did so in 1983.
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