A lawyer for Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker linked to financier Jeffrey Epstein, indicated uncertainty regarding her upcoming congressional testimony. David Oscar Markus, Maxwell's attorney, disclosed that his client is still deliberating whether to comply with a subpoena for her appearance before House lawmakers scheduled for the week of August 11.

“We have to make a decision about whether she will do that or not,” Markus said. He made these remarks following Maxwell's extensive two-day interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, part of the Trump administration's ongoing investigation into Epstein's network.

The possibility of Maxwell asserting her Fifth Amendment rights looms large, potentially complicating the efforts of the House Oversight and Governmental Reform Committee to obtain her testimony. Although Maxwell has cooperated fully with the Justice Department, answering questions about approximately 100 individuals, her credibility remains a significant concern for both the Justice Department and Congress.

House Speaker Mike Johnson recently expressed skepticism about Maxwell's reliability as a witness. “Could she be counted on to tell the truth? Is she a credible witness? This is a person sentenced to many years in prison for terrible, unspeakable acts,” Johnson stated, highlighting the challenges of trusting her testimony.

The discussions around Maxwell’s potential testimony are occurring alongside her ongoing appeal against her 20-year sentence for sex trafficking conspiracy. There has been no indication from the Trump administration about a possible pardon for Maxwell, though Markus hinted at the possibility. “We hope [President Donald Trump] exercises that power in the right and just way,” he remarked.

While GOP leaders view the Justice Department's interview with Maxwell as a step forward, the broader implications of her potential testimony continue to stir debate and uncertainty. A spokesperson for the Oversight Committee Republicans declined to comment on the matter.

As the date of her scheduled testimony approaches, the decision of whether Maxwell will appear before Congress remains pending, with significant legal and ethical considerations at play.