Live updates: Ghislaine Maxwell refuses to answer questions to Epstein committee

Image source, US Department of Justice

Ghislaine Maxwell will face questions under oath before the congressional committee investigating the US federal government’s handling of the Epstein files.

The 64-year-old will be questioned behind closed doors and his appearance will be via video link rather than in-person.

Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting and trafficking teenage girls for sexual abuse by Epstein.

Maxwell’s lawyer told the BBC on Sunday that Maxwell “will take the 5th”, meaning that she does not have to give evidence that may self-incriminate her.

Maxwell will read “a prepared statement at the outset of the deposition,” Democratic Representative Ro Khanna says.

Her appearance before the committee comes less than two weeks after the Department of Justice (DOJ) released over three million documents in the latest release of the Epstein files, which have further exposed Epstein’s relations with powerful individuals across the world.

Survivors of Epstein appeared in an advertisement on US television on Sunday calling for the release of more files related to him. The DOJ was required by law to make all the files public in December last year. However, not all have been released, and many with redactions.

As a reminder, appearing in the files does not imply any wrongdoing.