WASHINGTON (BN24) — Ghislaine Maxwell, the jailed former confidante of Jeffrey Epstein, is willing to testify before Congress about her role in the disgraced financier’s sex-trafficking operation — but only under strict conditions, including a full grant of immunity from future prosecution, her lawyers said Tuesday.
In a letter to Rep. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, Maxwell’s attorneys outlined their terms for cooperation, requesting immunity, advance notice of any questions, and a delay in scheduling the interview until after the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether to hear her appeal. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse underage girls.
The Oversight Committee quickly rebuffed the proposal. In a brief statement, a spokesperson said the panel “will respond to Ms. Maxwell’s attorney soon, but it will not consider granting congressional immunity for her testimony.”
Maxwell’s attorneys, however, insist she is prepared to “share the truth” and “dispel the many misconceptions and misstatements that have plagued this case,” so long as she is protected from any additional criminal liability stemming from her testimony.
The letter comes amid a renewed surge of public and political interest in the Epstein case, following the Justice Department’s July announcement that it would not release additional documents related to the investigation. The decision triggered widespread backlash among online activists, conspiracy theorists, and many within President Donald Trump’s base, who have long alleged a cover-up involving high-profile individuals.
Trump administration officials have since sought to reassert their commitment to transparency. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche interviewed Maxwell over two days last week at a Florida courthouse, and the Justice Department has supported efforts to unseal grand jury materials related to the Epstein case.
Maxwell’s lawyers initially considered invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination but said she may be open to cooperation if legal safeguards are in place — including either immunity or a presidential pardon.
The latter is unlikely but not impossible. Maxwell’s legal team noted that President Trump has acknowledged he holds the power to issue a pardon but has not been asked to do so. They say she would testify “openly and honestly, in public” if granted clemency.
Separately, Maxwell continues to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to review her conviction, arguing she was denied a fair trial. The Court has not yet announced whether it will take up the case.
