[GRADE B — Congressional proceedings, House Oversight Committee video (public record)]
On February 9, 2026, Ghislaine Maxwell appeared by video from a minimum-security federal prison in Texas before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The deposition, conducted as a closed-door virtual session, lasted approximately 18 minutes. Maxwell invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in response to every question.
Her attorney subsequently offered that Maxwell would provide a "complete account" of what she knows if President Trump grants her clemency. The attorney stated Maxwell would testify that the president is "innocent of any wrongdoing." The House Oversight Committee released the full deposition video on X (formerly Twitter).
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Feb 9, 2026 (morning) | Maxwell invokes Fifth Amendment in House deposition |
| Feb 9, 2026 | Reps. Massie and Khanna review unredacted files at DOJ |
| Feb 10, 2026 | Khanna reads six co-conspirator names on House floor |
| Feb 10, 2026 | Maxwell's attorney offers testimony for clemency |
The near-simultaneous events — Maxwell's invocation, the discovery of concealed names, and the clemency offer — represent the most concentrated period of disclosure in the Epstein case since the original 2019 arrest.
Maxwell's Fifth Amendment invocation confirms she believes truthful testimony could expose her to additional criminal liability beyond her existing conviction and 20-year sentence. The clemency offer — conditioned on testimony that Trump is "innocent of any wrongdoing" — introduces a political dimension to potential cooperation. Whether the offer is accepted, and what testimony Maxwell would provide about other individuals, remains the most consequential open question in the Epstein case.
WHAT THIS SHOWS AND DOES NOT SHOW: Maxwell's Fifth Amendment invocation is a constitutional right documented in the congressional record and the released video. It establishes that she possesses undisclosed information she considers self-incriminating. It does NOT reveal what that information is, whether the clemency offer will be accepted, or whether her testimony would address the international figures documented in this dossier. The Fifth Amendment invocation carries no inference of guilt — it is a constitutional protection.