Lawmakers want to question Ghislaine Maxwell in Florida prison about Jeffrey Epstein
The Epstein case continues to be a political liability for President Donald Trump, who was once friends with him.
- The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed Ghislaine Maxwell to testify about Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking operation.
- Maxwell's lawyer did not say that his client would sit for the deposition, however, but confirmed a meeting with the Department of Justice.
- The committee hopes Maxwell's testimony will inform future legislation to combat sex trafficking.
Amid a day of blockbuster disclosures in the case of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a U.S. House committee issued a subpoena for Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell to appear at a deposition in the federal women's prison in Tallahassee, Florida, where she is serving her 20-year sentence.
"The facts and circumstances surrounding both your and Mr. Epstein’s cases have received immense public interest and scrutiny," wrote James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, in a July 23 letter to Maxwell through her Miami attorney, David Oscar Markus.
The deposition is set for Aug. 11 at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee, the state capital, records show. The purpose is to further "potential legislative solutions ... to combat sex trafficking," among other things.
But Markus, in a social media post, wouldn't yet commit to his client agreeing to the deposition: "Ms. Maxwell is taking this one step at a time. She looks forward to her meeting with the Department of Justice, and that discussion will help inform how she proceeds," he said.
As previously reported, the Epstein case has become a political liability for President Donald Trump, who was once friends with the wealthy financier, after he and top administration officials raised expectations of bombshell revelations – before declaring the case closed.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking minors, including abusing and exploiting underage girls, and reportedly involving powerful and influential men. After his arrest, Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail, which has fueled conspiracy theories and demands – including from the MAGA base – for fuller disclosures.
Maxwell was convicted in 2021 for her role in recruiting and grooming the victims.
"On July 13, The Daily Mail reported you were willing to speak with Congress regarding Mr. Epstein’s criminal activities," Comer wrote. "According to the reporting, a source said you were 'never offered any kind of plea deal' and 'would be more than happy to sit before Congress and tell (your) story.' ”
Separately, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said July 22 that Justice Department prosecutors had also asked to meet with Maxwell.
"While the Department (of Justice) undertakes efforts to uncover and publicly disclose additional information related to your and Mr. Epstein’s cases, it is imperative that Congress conduct oversight of the federal government’s enforcement of sex trafficking laws generally and specifically its handling of the investigation and prosecution of you and Mr. Epstein," Comer wrote.
"In particular, the Committee seeks your testimony to inform the consideration of potential legislative solutions to improve federal efforts to combat sex trafficking and reform the use of non-prosecution agreements and/or plea agreements in sex-crime investigations."
Also July 23, the Wall Street Journal reported that when Justice Department officials reviewed what Attorney General Pam Bondi described as a “truckload” of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein earlier this year, they found multiple references to Trump.
As early as this May in a White House meeting, Bondi told Trump his name appeared in the files, the Journal reported. Regardless, White House officials have steadfastly rejected any suggestion that Trump committed any wrongdoing.
And a federal judge in Florida rejected a bid from the Justice Department on July 23 to unseal grand jury testimony tied to a two-decades-old investigation into Epstein.
In an X post, Markus said that if Maxwell "agrees to testify before Congress and not take the 5th — and that remains a big if — she would testify truthfully, as she always has said she would and as she will with (Blanche).
"... (W)e are grateful to Mr. Blanche and his DOJ that they are approaching this with an open mind. That's how our system is supposed to work," he added.
This story contains previously published material, including from Paste BN. Jim Rosica is a member of the Paste BN Network – Florida Capital Bureau. Reach him at jrosica@tallahassee.com and follow him on Twitter/X: @JimRosicaFL.