Ghislaine Maxwell demands immunity to testify before House panel after subpoena

A lawyer for Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of the late financier and convicted sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein, on Tuesday demanded his client receive immunity to testify before the House Oversight Committee, after the panel subpoenaed her last week.

Maxwell – convicted on the charges in 2021 and now serving a 20-year prison sentence – returned to the public spotlight after the Trump Justice Department recently said it was closing an investigation on Epstein, despite President Trump and allies in the agency having vowed to further investigate Epstein, whose death in prison while awaiting trial on new charges was ruled a suicide.

Maxwell solicited and groomed young women for Epstein. A major issue among those who want the Epstein probe to continue is whether he indeed had a "client list" of powerful men for such women. 

On Monday, she appealed to the Supreme Court to overturn her 2021 conviction for sex trafficking children.

Maxwell attorney David Oscar Marcus said in the appeal that his client's testimony to the committee could jeopardize efforts to overturn her conviction, The Hill news outlet reported.

“As you know, Ms. Maxwell is actively pursuing post-conviction relief—both in a pending petition before the United States Supreme Court and in a forthcoming habeas petition. Any testimony she provides now could compromise her constitutional rights, prejudice her legal claims, and potentially taint a future jury pool,” Marcus wrote.

“Public reports – including your own statements – indicate that the Committee intends to question Ms. Maxwell in prison and without a grant of immunity. Those are non-starters. Ms. Maxwell cannot risk further criminal exposure in a politically charged environment without formal immunity.”

He added that Maxwell would testify “if a fair and safe path forward can be established.”

“The Oversight Committee will respond to Ms. Maxwell’s attorney soon, but it will not consider granting congressional immunity for her testimony,” House Oversight Committee spokesperson Jessica Collins said in a statement.

Marcus also asked that the deposition occur after the Supreme Court considers Maxwell's appeal.

“To prepare adequately for any congressional deposition – and to ensure accuracy and fairness – we would require the Committee’s questions in advance. This is essential not only to allow for meaningful preparation, but also to identify the relevant documentation from millions of pages that could corroborate her responses,” he wrote.

“Of course, in the alternative, if Ms. Maxwell were to receive clemency, she would be willing—and eager—to testify openly and honestly, in public, before Congress in Washington, D.C.,” Marcus added.

Marcus has said he has yet to seek a pardon for his client from Trump.

Last week, Maxwell met with Department of Justice officials to answer questions about Epstein and his operation, though the details of those conversations have not been made public.