Congress will subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell for deposition


This recording was made using enhanced software.

Summary

Maxwell subpoena

The House Oversight Committee will subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, the woman who helped run Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring, for a deposition.

Logistics

The committee will work with the DOJ and Bureau of Prisons to coordinate since Maxwell is currently serving 20 years in federal prison.

Epstein's enabler

Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of enticing and trafficking minors to engage in illegal sex acts. Epstein had over 1,000 victims.


Full story

The House Oversight Committee will subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, the woman who helped run Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking ring, for a deposition. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2021 of enticing and trafficking minors to engage in illegal sex acts. 

“The Committee will seek to subpoena Ms. Maxwell as expeditiously as possible,” an Oversight Committee spokesperson confirmed to Straight Arrow News. “Since Ms. Maxwell is in federal prison, the Committee will work with the Department of Justice and Bureau of Prisons to identify a date when the Committee can depose her.”

QR code for SAN app download

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

Interest in the Epstein case skyrocketed earlier this month after the Justice Department released a memo that said there was no Epstein client list and they don’t expect anyone else involved in the sex trafficking ring to be prosecuted. The memo confirmed Epstein had over 1,000 victims. 

President Donald Trump and his supporters said for months that they were going to release a client list and all the files pertaining to the case. The Justice Department memo contradicted that, leading many to wonder what the truth is. 

Last week, Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., sent a letter to Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., asking him to subpoena Maxwell. In response, Comer told Burchett to bring up a motion to subpoena Maxwell so the committee could formally consider it. Burchett brought up the motion Tuesday morning, July 22, in the Government Operations Subcommittee. It passed unanimously. 

Burchett said he is “proud” that the committee is directing Comer to issue the subpoena. 

“This deposition will help the American people understand how Jeffrey Epstein was able to carry out his evil actions for so long without being brought to justice,” Burchett said in a statement. 

Based on the House of Representatives’ schedule, the earliest Maxwell could testify is September. Although the logistical challenges of bringing her from federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida, to Washington, D.C., could make the process take even longer. FCI Tallahassee is a low-security facility with a detention center. 

On Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that he is reaching out to Maxwell’s attorneys and intends to meet with her in the coming days. He said he has one main question to ask her –– What do you know?

Blanche said this Department of Justice does not shy away from uncomfortable truths, nor from the responsibility to pursue justice wherever the facts may lead.

Snorre Wik (Director of Photography/Non-Linear Editor), Alex Delia (Deputy Managing Editor), and Drew Pittock (Digital Producer) contributed to this report.
Tags: , , ,

SAN provides
Unbiased. Straight Facts.

Don’t just take our word for it.


Certified balanced reporting

According to media bias experts at AllSides

AllSides Certified Balanced May 2025

Transparent and credible

Awarded a perfect reliability rating from NewsGuard

100/100

Welcome back to trustworthy journalism.

Find out more

Why this story matters

Congress’ move to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell for testimony about Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking network raises central questions about accountability, transparency and the potential exposure of additional individuals involved or complicit in Epstein’s crimes.

Government transparency

Lawmakers from both parties have demanded the release of documents and testimony to clarify the extent of Epstein’s network and to address public doubts about whether powerful individuals have been shielded from scrutiny.

Accountability for sex trafficking

The effort to depose Maxwell aims to address how Epstein carried out his criminal activities for years and seeks to ensure that all those who may have participated or enabled these crimes are held responsible.

Bipartisan and political tensions

The subpoena has prompted rare bipartisan cooperation alongside pointed partisan disputes, with allegations of a cover-up, debates on releasing additional files, and accusations from various sides about political motives and obstruction.

Get the big picture

Synthesized coverage insights across 27 media outlets

Global impact

The Epstein-Maxwell case has attracted international interest, particularly given Maxwell’s British nationality and Epstein’s connections to global elites, including Britain's Prince Andrew. The congressional action and demand for transparency are being closely observed by international media and advocacy groups focused on trafficking and institutional abuse worldwide.

Context corner

The Epstein case has long been mired in allegations of systemic failures, powerful connections shielding co-conspirators, and unanswered questions following Epstein’s 2019 death in jail. The subpoena of Ghislaine Maxwell by Congress comes against a backdrop of public distrust, historical secrecy around abuse by powerful figures, and repeated demands for institutional transparency and justice.

History lesson

High-profile cases involving sexual abuse by influential individuals have a history of complex prosecutions and allegations of institutional protection or neglect. Efforts to bring co-conspirators to justice have often faced obstacles, with previous investigations criticized for leniency or failing to act on early warnings — paralleling past scandals involving clergy, celebrities and other elites.

SAN provides
Unbiased. Straight Facts.

Don’t just take our word for it.


Certified balanced reporting

According to media bias experts at AllSides

AllSides Certified Balanced May 2025

Transparent and credible

Awarded a perfect reliability rating from NewsGuard

100/100

Welcome back to trustworthy journalism.

Find out more

Bias comparison

  • Media outlets on the left frame the subpoena of Ghislaine Maxwell with a pronounced focus on accountability and suspicion towards political figures, often employing emotionally charged language like “convicted Epstein associate” and suggesting a “cover-up” by the Trump administration, highlighting potential silencing motives.
  • Not enough unique coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
  • Media outlets on the right emphasize government corruption and file tampering allegations linked to the Biden administration, with rhetoric such as “partner-in-crime” and calls for Maxwell’s sentence commutation and immunity.

Media landscape

Click on bars to see headlines

27 total sources

Key points from the Center

  • On Tuesday, July 22, the House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell for a deposition in Washington, D.C.
  • The subpoena follows pressure on the Justice Department amid questions about Epstein's July 6 DOJ memo denying a client list and confirming his 2019 prison suicide.
  • Maxwell, Epstein’s former partner, is incarcerated with a 20-year sentence related to child sex trafficking.
  • Tennessee Republican Rep. Tim Burchett introduced the motion, saying the deposition will help Americans understand how Epstein carried out his crimes for so long without justice, while Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said, "That changes now."
  • In the coming days, Blanche plans to meet Maxwell to discuss if she will talk to prosecutors about Epstein’s alleged ties to powerful figures, reflecting new DOJ inquiry efforts.

Report an issue with this summary

Key points from the Right

  • The House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell for a deposition, introduced by Rep. Tim Burchett during a hearing.
  • Burchett emphasized the need for transparency regarding Epstein's files, expressing skepticism about the Biden administration's alleged tampering with files related to Epstein's case.
  • Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced plans to meet with Maxwell to discuss her willingness to speak about Epstein's connections to powerful figures.
  • Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for child sex trafficking, with ongoing pressure for information on Epstein's clients.

Report an issue with this summary

Powered by Ground News™

Timeline

Timeline

Daily Newsletter

Start your day with fact-based news

Start your day with fact-based news

Learn more about our emails. Unsubscribe anytime.

By entering your email, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.