Epstein case: Ghislaine Maxwell refuses to testify from prison without protection

Ghislaine Maxwell, who was closely linked to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has asked for legal protection before giving evidence to a U.S. congressional committee. This comes as the case once again draws attention to President Donald Trump’s past ties with Epstein.

The Republican-led House Oversight Committee plans to question Maxwell on 11 August at the Florida prison where she is serving a 20-year sentence. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 for helping Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls.

Her lawyer, David Markus, told Committee Chair James Comer that Maxwell would not testify unless she was granted immunity from further prosecution. “Ms Maxwell cannot risk more criminal charges in a politically charged situation unless she is given formal immunity,” Markus said in a letter.


He also asked that the questioning not take place in prison, and that the committee share their questions ahead of time. Markus added that Maxwell would be willing to speak in public if she was granted clemency.

Maxwell is also trying to get her conviction overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump, meanwhile, has said he is not considering a presidential pardon for her.

Trump’s past friendship with Epstein, whom he knew in the 1990s and early 2000s, has raised questions. Trump claims he cut ties with Epstein years before Epstein’s death. Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking minors.

Both Democrats and some Trump supporters have been calling for all documents related to Epstein and Maxwell to be made public. Epstein had earlier served 13 months in jail after pleading guilty in 2008 to a prostitution charge in Florida.

On Tuesday, Democrats in Congress asked for more details. Senators Dick Durbin and Sheldon Whitehouse wrote to the Justice Department, requesting a transcript of a recent conversation between a department official and Maxwell.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer also asked the FBI to assess whether foreign governments could use Epstein-related information to blackmail U.S. leaders. “Could our enemies use this information to blackmail someone like the president or other senior government officials?” Schumer said.