[BBC] Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, refused to answer questions from the US House Oversight Committee on Monday.
Maxwell appeared virtually for a closed-door deposition from the Texas prison where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.
Republican House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer said that "as expected", Maxwell pleaded the Fifth Amendment, invoking her right to remain silent.
"This is obviously very disappointing," he said. "We had many questions to ask about the crimes she and Epstein committed, as well as questions about potential co-conspirators."
The Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution gives Americans the right to avoid self-incrimination by refusing to answer questions while under oath.
Democratic Representative Melanie Stansbury told reporters after the hearing that Maxwell used the opportunity to "campaign for clemency".
| You won’t get anything if you don’t ask, but I can’t imagine she expected her odds were good. |
Comer said it was clear from speaking to Epstein survivors "that Maxwell was a very bad person" who did not deserve any type of immunity.
In a social media post earlier, Maxwell's lawyer David Oscar Markus said Maxwell was "prepared to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency by President Trump".
"Only she can provide the complete account. Some may not like what they hear, but the truth matters," he posted.
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