Maxwell appeared virtually for a closed-door deposition from the Texas prison where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.
Republican House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer said that “as expected”, Maxwell pleaded the Fifth Amendment, invoking her right to remain silent.
“This is obviously very disappointing,” he said. “We had many questions to ask about the crimes she and Epstein committed, as well as questions about potential co-conspirators.”
Back to solitary then, right??
The intent of the fifth amendment is that one cannot be punished for failing to testify if the testimony is self-incriminating.
As much as Maxwell is a reprehensible human being, the law exists for good reasons.
ETA: using the fifth amendment as a bargaining chip (as in “if Trump grants clemency, I’ll talk) is an inevitable outcome, but also entirely dirtbag manoeuvre.
In criminal trials, not civil. You technically do not even have a fifth amendment right in civil trials.
Can one be criminally prosecuted based on statements made in civil court?
Yes. It just didn’t work the same. Statements you refuse to answer can be seen in the light least favorable to your position whereas in criminal cases you can’t make any determination or assumption about answers that people refuse to answer.