Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking charges linked to the notorious Jeffrey Epstein case, has chosen to plead the Fifth Amendment in the House Oversight Committee's ongoing investigation into Epstein's activities and the Justice Department's response. Oversight Chair James Comer disclosed that Maxwell's legal team communicated her decision to withhold testimony, citing her constitutional rights against self-incrimination.

In a recent interview, Comer, a Kentucky Republican, expressed his reservations about the effectiveness of sending committee members to interview Maxwell at her Texas federal prison camp location. “Her lawyers have replied that she's not going to answer any questions," Comer said. "She's only going to plead the Fifth. I mean, I could spend a bunch of taxpayer dollars to send staff and members down there, and if she's going to plead the Fifth, I don’t know that that's a good investment.”

The decision follows a subpoena issued by Comer in July, which initially met with some indication from Maxwell's team that she might cooperate under certain conditions. These conditions included resolving her appeals and receiving immunity from further prosecution, alongside advanced notice of the questions she would be asked. However, after the Supreme Court declined to reconsider her conviction, these negotiations stalled.

Maxwell's attorney, David Oscar Markus, has yet to respond to requests for comment. He previously signed a letter in July stating Maxwell "will have no choice but to invoke her Fifth Amendment rights" unless her conditions were met.

This development comes after Maxwell participated in a two-day interview with the Justice Department in July, which was shortly followed by her transfer to a minimum-security facility in Texas. This move has sparked debate, with some critics suggesting that Maxwell has been receiving unduly favorable treatment from authorities.

In addition to the ongoing congressional probe, Maxwell is reportedly preparing a petition for commutation from President Donald Trump, seeking a reduction in her prison sentence. This move is likely to add another layer of complexity and public interest to her already high-profile legal battles.