<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="http://9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="" title="US"><span>US</span></a><span> politicians have tried to interview </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/ghislaine-maxwell" rel="" target="" title="Ghislaine Maxwell"><span>Ghislaine Maxwell</span></a><span>, but the former girlfriend and confidant of </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/jeffrey-epstein" rel="" target="" title="Jeffrey Epstein"><span>Jeffrey Epstein</span></a><span> has invoked her fifth Amendment rights to avoid answering questions that would be self-incriminating.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Maxwell was to be questioned on Monday (early Tuesday AEDT) during a video call to the federal prison camp in Texas where she's serving a more than 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She's come under new scrutiny as politicians try to investigate how Epstein, a well-connected financier, was able to sexually abuse underage girls for years.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/jeffrey-epstein-files-uk-pm-keir-starmer-called-on-to-resign-by-anas-sarwar-over-peter-mandelson-appointment/bea209d5-7c7d-4647-bb6c-88940247d242" rel="" target="" title="Leader of Scotland's Labour Party calls on Starmer to resign over Epstein revelations"><strong><span>Leader of Scotland's Labour Party calls on Starmer to resign over Epstein revelations</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Amid a reckoning over Epstein's abuse that has spilled into nations around the globe, politicians are searching for anyone who was connected to Epstein and may have facilitated his abuse.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Several also planned on Monday to look through unredacted versions of the files on Epstein that the Department of Justice released to comply with a law passed by Congress 2025.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Maxwell has been seeking to have her conviction overturned, arguing that she was wrongfully convicted.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/jeffrey-epstein-files-ghislaine-maxwell-declines-to-answer-questions-from-house-committee-citing-5th-amendment-rights/d4743541-1405-4013-bde5-58102cf93ec8" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Supreme Court rejected her appeal last year2025, but in December requested that a federal judge in New York consider what her attorneys describe as "substantial new evidence" that her trial was spoiled by constitutional violations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An attorney for Maxwell cited that petition and also told politicians that she would be willing to testify that neither President Donald Trump nor former president Bill Clinton were culpable for wrongdoing in their relationships with Epstein, according to both Democratic and Republican politicians who exited the closed-door meeting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Democrats argued that Maxwell's assertion was an effort to appeal to Trump for presidential clemency.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/epstein-files-update-uk-police-force-assesses-claims-former-prince-andrew-sent-sensitive-trade-reports-to-jeffrey-epstein/2ff5be9c-fe0b-4c5e-8570-5aa203c31f2c"><strong><span>Will and Kate break silence on Andrew's Epstein scandal</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's very clear she's campaigning for clemency," said Representative Melanie Stansbury, a New Mexico Democrat.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Republican chair of the committee, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, said it was "very disappointing" that Maxwell declined to participate in the deposition.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Comer had subpoenaed her last year but her attorneys have consistently told the committee that she won't answer questions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, Comer came under pressure to hold the deposition as he pressed for the committee to enforce subpoenas on Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After Comer threatened them with contempt of Congress charges, they both agreed to sit for depositions later this month.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Comer has been haggling with the Clintons more than whether that testimony should be held in a public hearing, but Comer reiterated Monday that he would insist on holding closed-door depositions and later releasing transcripts and video.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>