Ghislaine Maxwell makes Congress an offer they’ll probably refuse, but a plea to Trump is still in the picture

Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted as Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplice, has responded to the House Oversight Committee’s subpoena with an offer to testify, but her terms come with significant conditions. The offer, detailed in a letter sent to Committee Chair James Comer on Tuesday, includes a request for formal immunity among other demands.

According to CNN, Maxwell’s legal team initially planned to use her Fifth Amendment rights but changed course, suggesting they would cooperate if certain conditions were met. Her attorneys expressed concern about how her testimony might affect her ongoing Supreme Court appeal and potentially influence future jury selections.

Maxwell’s attorneys have made Congress an offer they’ll probably refuse, as the House Oversight Committee has already rejected the idea of granting immunity. A committee spokeswoman stated firmly that they would not consider giving Maxwell congressional immunity for her testimony. This aligns with Comer’s earlier statement to CNN, where he said, “I don’t think there are many Republicans that want to give immunity to someone that may have been sex trafficking children.”

What Maxwell wants before she testifies

The conditions laid out by Maxwell’s legal team are extensive. They insist the interview cannot take place at her current correctional facility. They also demand to receive the Committee’s questions beforehand, arguing that surprise questioning would be inappropriate and unproductive. Additionally, they want to wait until after the Supreme Court handles her petition and her upcoming habeas petition.

The timing of any potential testimony remains uncertain, as the Supreme Court is not expected to act on Maxwell’s petition until October, following their summer break. If these conditions are not met, Maxwell’s attorneys have made it clear she will exercise her Fifth Amendment rights.

In an unexpected move, the letter concluded with a direct appeal to President Donald Trump for clemency. Her attorneys stated that if Maxwell received clemency, she would be willing and eager to testify openly and honestly in public before Congress in Washington, D.C.

The response from Congress suggests that Maxwell’s conditions are unlikely to be met. The Oversight Committee has promised to respond to Maxwell’s attorneys soon, but their initial reaction indicates they are not willing to negotiate on the immunity demand, making the prospect of Maxwell’s testimony before Congress uncertain at best.