Maxwell Set to Testify Before Congress Amidst Epstein Investigation

Thu Jan 22 2026 04:00:46 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Ghislaine Maxwell agrees to testify virtually on February 9, 2026, as the congressional committee probes the government's handling of the Epstein cases.

Ghislaine Maxwell will testify before a congressional committee investigating the Epstein cases on February 9, 2026, although her legal team indicates she may plead the Fifth Amendment. Currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein's crimes, Maxwell's potential refusal to answer questions raises legal complexities. The committee faces critiques regarding the handling of Epstein files and additional scrutiny surrounding former Presidents Trump and Clinton's connections to the case.

Ghislaine Maxwell, the jailed associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has agreed to testify under oath before the congressional committee investigating the federal government's handling of the Epstein cases.

Committee chairman James Comer, who is leading the investigation, says Maxwell will speak to the committee virtually on February 9. Maxwell's legal team has previously stated she would decline to answer questions under her constitutional right to remain silent unless she is granted legal immunity.

Comer previewed the deposition, noting that her lawyers have indicated she is likely to plead the Fifth Amendment, which allows individuals to refuse to answer questions that may incriminate them.

The announcement from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee comes amidst ongoing scrutiny of the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein case. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in recruiting and trafficking teenage girls for Epstein's sexual abuse.

In July, the committee had declined to offer Maxwell legal immunity in exchange for her testimony, and by August, issued a legal summons requiring her to submit evidence under oath. However, Maxwell's legal team described the committee's requirements as non-starters, cautioning that her testimony from jail poses risks and could expose her to further legal jeopardy.

On Tuesday, her attorneys reiterated their client's refusal to testify, stating that proceeding under current conditions would be a waste of taxpayer funds. They insisted that the political environment surrounding the investigation only complicates situations in which her safety and legal protections are at stake.

While the House committee cannot force Maxwell to waive her Fifth Amendment rights, they continue to face public scrutiny over the handling of associated Epstein files. Critics argue that redactions amid the released documents hinder transparency.

As the investigation unfolds, the committee is also addressing the refusal of former Presidents Bill and Hillary Clinton to testify in relation to Epstein's dealings, considering potential contempt charges as discussions progress.