Ghislaine Maxwell, former girlfriend and associate of Jeffrey Epstein, invoked her Fifth Amendment right to refuse to testify at a House Oversight Committee hearing on Monday.

She was questioned via video conference from a federal prison in Texas, where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking charges. The testimony was conducted as a non-public interview.

Her testimony came the same day the Justice Department allowed lawmakers access to unredacted files related to the Epstein case.

"As expected, Ghislaine Maxwell took the Fifth and refused to answer any questions," said House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.). "This is very disappointing."

Maxwell was subpoenaed by the committee as part of Comer's investigation into the Epstein case and the deceased billionaire's dealings.

Democrats claimed Maxwell was appealing to Trump for clemency.

"It is very clear she is actively campaigning for clemency," said Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.).

Maxwell's attorney, David Marcus, stated in an X post, "There is a simple path for the Oversight Committee and the American public to hear the unvarnished truth of what happened: Ms. Maxwell is prepared to testify fully and truthfully if she receives clemency from President Trump."

Marcus added, "Only she can provide the complete truth. Some people may not like what they hear, but the truth matters. For example, neither President Trump nor President Clinton did anything wrong. Ms. Maxwell alone can explain why, and the public has a right to hear that explanation."

By Sung Ku Hong, Chief Reporter, NNP USA / Special Contribution, NNP info@newsandpost.com