NEW: Ghislaine Maxwell Vindicates Trump In Closed-Door Testimony

President Trump emerged vindicated Monday as the long-running congressional investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein slammed into another dead end, with Epstein’s closest associate refusing to talk under oath.

Ghislaine Maxwell, now serving a 20-year federal sentence for her role in Epstein’s sex trafficking scheme, declined to answer questions during a sworn deposition, invoking her Fifth Amendment rights over video from a Texas prison camp. The appearance came months after she was subpoenaed by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

In an opening statement obtained by POLITICO, Maxwell’s attorney David Oscar Markus argued that only his client can fully explain what happened in the Epstein saga and said clemency would allow her to testify. That authority rests solely with President Trump, who has not ruled out a pardon.

“Only she can provide the complete account. Some may not like what they hear, but the truth matters,” Markus said in the prepared remarks. “For example, both President Trump and President Clinton are innocent of any wrongdoing. Ms. Maxwell alone can explain why, and the public is entitled to that explanation.”

Markus also pointed to ongoing legal proceedings involving Maxwell as a reason for her silence.

Democrats blasted the move, accusing Maxwell of turning the deposition into a pressure play for clemency from Trump. House Oversight Chairman James Comer said he did not believe she should receive it.

Ghislaine Maxwell

“Unfortunately, she had an opportunity today to answer questions that every American has — questions that would be very important in this investigation — and she chose to invoke her Fifth Amendment right,” the Kentucky Republican said.

Lawmakers filtering into the deposition included Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, a Republican running for governor, and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, a Democrat running for Senate.

Rep. Ro Khanna of California said he planned to review unredacted Epstein files at the Justice Department later Monday, noting he would be joined by Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky. The two lawmakers previously teamed up to force a floor vote on releasing the records.

With Maxwell silent and the investigation stalled, Trump once again finds himself cleared in the Epstein affair, even as Democrats continue searching for answers that never seem to materialize.

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