According to a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, Chairperson James Kommer, a Republican from Kentucky, indicated that committee investigators were set to visit the Tallahassee Jail on August 11 for a session with Ghislaine Maxwell. This follows their decision to summon her regarding her connections with Jeffrey Epstein, who has been implicated as a pedophile.
Maxwell’s attorneys recently argued in a letter that she did not receive a fair trial, asking for the date of her deposition to be postponed until a Supreme Court case concerning her is resolved. Comer referenced that the Supreme Court plans to review the petition for Certiorari on September 29, suggesting that the committee could delay its deposition until after that ruling.
Interestingly, Comer dismissed a request from Maxwell’s legal team for a preemptive pause in the investigation, stating they should stop making excuses. This comes amid ongoing discussions about the terms under which Maxwell might agree to testify. Her lawyer pointed out conditions such as needing immunity, holding the deposition outside of Tallahassee, and providing access to the committee’s questions in advance, among others. However, Comer turned down these requests for immunity and insight into questions beforehand but affirmed a commitment to ongoing negotiations in good faith.
The decision to issue a subpoena for Maxwell followed a unanimous vote from both Republican and Democratic members of the committee in late July, initiated by Representative Tim Burchett, a Republican from Tennessee.
In an earlier part of the letter, Comer emphasized the importance of her testimony in relation to Epstein’s controversial non-prosecution agreement from 2007 and the circumstances surrounding his death. He suggested that their findings could help shape future legislation aimed at combating sex trafficking and reforming various judicial agreements.
Notably, Fox News recently learned that Maxwell has been moved from Florida to a federal facility in Bryan, Texas. Investigators are keen to discuss her long-standing relationship with Epstein, especially considering he was facing serious charges when he died in a New York prison in 2019.
Maxwell herself was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022 for her involvement in the sexual exploitation of minors alongside Epstein, according to a statement from the Southern District of New York. Her lawyers argued that testifying now could jeopardize her legal rights and affect potential future cases.
Previously, Maxwell had a meeting with federal agents, including Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, as directed by Attorney General Pam Bondy.
In response to Comer’s letter, Maxwell’s attorney expressed appreciation for Comer’s acknowledgment and the delay in deposition, emphasizing their intention to collaborate with Congress while ensuring that constitutional rights are not compromised.
