From Prison to Capitol Hill: Ghislaine Maxwell’s Feb. 9 Deposition Set to Test Limits of Power and Accountability
Washington, January 26, 2026 — Ending months of negotiation and partisan pressure, the House Oversight Committee has locked in February 9 for a virtual deposition with Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker once at the heart of Jeffrey Epstein’s operation.
Chairman James Comer announced the date on January 21 after sustained push from both Republicans — who frame the probe as exposing “two-tiered justice” — and Democrats, led by Ranking Member Robert Garcia, who have demanded transparency for victims. The session stems from a long-standing subpoena and focuses on Maxwell’s role in recruiting and grooming victims, as well as any knowledge she holds about high-profile figures who crossed paths with Epstein.
Maxwell, incarcerated at a low-security federal facility in Florida, has previously indicated she would plead the Fifth on most questions without immunity protections. Her attorneys have described ongoing discussions with the committee, but a full refusal to engage could open the door to contempt proceedings or escalated congressional pressure.
The deposition fits into a larger Republican-led effort to scrutinize federal handling of the Epstein files, while Democrats emphasize survivor-centered accountability and the release of remaining sealed materials. Flight logs and unsealed documents have already fueled speculation about figures like Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Prince Andrew, and others — though direct criminal links remain unproven for most.
Public attention has surged since the announcement, with social platforms lighting up over the potential for new disclosures or a repeat of Maxwell’s courtroom reticence. Whatever path she chooses on February 9 — limited cooperation or continued silence — the event underscores the ongoing tension between elite influence and institutional demands for truth.
This single hearing may not resolve the Epstein saga, but it stands as a pivotal test of whether Congress can extract answers from one of the few people still alive who knows the full story.
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