From Federal Prison In Texas, Ghislaine Maxwell Will Testify, Mostly Silently, Before House Oversight Committee In Ongoing Epstein Probe
Monday, February 9, 2026, 8:00 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor: Englebrook Independent News,
WASHINGTON, DC.- Convicted child predator and child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence, will appear on Monday by virtual closed-door deposition before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, testifying remotely from a federal prison facility in Bryan, Texas, as part of the committee’s continuing investigation into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his broader trafficking network.
Maxwell, 64, was convicted in December 2021 on multiple federal counts related to the sexual exploitation of minors, including recruiting, grooming, and facilitating the abuse of underage girls for Epstein. She has been incarcerated since June 2022 and was transferred in 2025 to a lower-security federal facility in Texas.
The deposition was convened by House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), who has led the committee’s years-long probe into Epstein’s criminal enterprise, alleged enablers, and potential institutional failures that allowed the abuse to persist for decades.
Comer confirmed in January that Maxwell would be compelled to appear, despite her legal team signaling in advance that she intended to invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
“Her lawyers have made it clear that she is going to plead the Fifth,” Comer said at the time. “I hope she changes her mind, because I want to hear from her.”
As anticipated, Maxwell declined to answer substantive questions during the deposition, invoking her constitutional protections and instead reading a prepared statement. According to committee sources familiar with the proceeding, her testimony yielded little new information, with Maxwell refusing to address specific allegations, names, or institutional relationships tied to Epstein’s operation.
Several Republican members of the committee reacted sharply to Maxwell’s refusal to testify meaningfully, suggesting her silence may be shielding powerful individuals.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said that Maxwell’s unwillingness to cooperate only deepens suspicions surrounding Epstein’s network.
“Her silence will tell us more than her words,” Mace said, adding that unanswered questions will remain about who benefited from or enabled Epstein’s crimes.
Democratic members of the committee expressed frustration that the closed-door deposition will not produce new disclosures, while also criticizing the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein-related evidence. Democrats have repeatedly called for greater transparency from the Trump administration regarding millions of pages of Justice Department documents tied to the Epstein investigation that remain heavily redacted or unreleased.
The Maxwell deposition comes amid heightened activity by the Oversight Committee. In recent days, the committee announced that former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton agreed to appear for closed-door depositions later this month after initially resisting subpoenas. Committee leadership confirmed that Hillary Clinton’s deposition is scheduled for February 26, 2026, followed by Bill Clinton’s on February 27, 2026.
Chairman Comer has framed these developments as part of a broader effort to ensure accountability for elites who may have escaped scrutiny, arguing that no individual, regardless of status or political affiliation, should be beyond congressional oversight. Critics, however, contend the investigation has grown increasingly politicized, with closed sessions limiting public accountability.
Maxwell’s virtual appearance will be conducted under strict confidentiality and without public access, highlighting the ongoing tension between congressional efforts to uncover the full scope of Epstein-related abuses and the legal protections afforded to individuals already convicted and incarcerated.
Editor’s Note:
This article was written and prepared by Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor, using the most current and verifiable information available as of Monday, February 9, 2026. Details regarding Ghislaine Maxwell’s conviction, incarceration status, and congressional deposition were cross-checked against official court records, public statements from House Oversight Committee leadership, and multiple independent news reports to ensure factual accuracy.
