Ghislaine Maxwell appeals for clemency from Trump as she declines to answer questions from lawmakers

Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted of sex trafficking, has declined to answer questions from the House Oversight Committee during a deposition, invoking her Fifth Amendment rights. Maxwell indicated that she would be willing to testify about her connections with Jeffrey Epstein, including to former President Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, if President Trump were to grant her clemency. Maxwell's attorney stated she is prepared to speak fully and honestly if clemency is granted, asserting the innocence of Trump and Clinton. Democrats criticized this as a "brazen effort" to campaign for clemency, while some Republicans also rejected the idea. Meanwhile, lawmakers are reviewing unredacted files related to Epstein's case at the Justice Department. Some lawmakers found names of individuals potentially incriminated by the files and called for accountability. The release of these files has also caused political crises internationally, particularly in the UK. Despite the ongoing investigations and the release of documents, some U.S. political figures involved with Epstein appear to be escaping scrutiny, leading to concerns about the seriousness with which the matter is being treated.