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Congress Schedules Maxwell Deposition as Courts Bar Lawmakers’ Oversight Push

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Maxwell’s virtual deposition set for February 9 before the House Oversight Committee. The former socialite, serving a 20‑year sentence for sex‑trafficking, agreed to appear remotely in a sworn interview scheduled for Feb 9, and the committee chair James Comer announced the plan publicly[1]. Maxwell remains incarcerated while the deposition proceeds, and the timing follows a series of procedural steps including a July refusal to grant immunity and an August legal summons[1].

Lawyers intend to invoke the Fifth Amendment and demand immunity. Maxwell’s defense has warned that testifying without formal immunity would expose her to further criminal risk, labeling the requirement a “non‑starter”[1]. Committee chair Comer noted that her lawyers expect to plead the Fifth, underscoring the legal contention over her compelled testimony[1].

Federal judge rejects lawmakers’ bid to install an independent monitor. U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer ruled that Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie lack standing to join Maxwell’s criminal case or obtain a court‑appointed overseer for the Epstein‑Maxwell file release[2][3]. The decision emphasizes the court’s lack of authority to intervene in a criminal proceeding and limits judicial power over congressional oversight efforts[2].

DOJ has released only a tiny fraction of the identified documents. Approximately 12,000 of the more than 2 million investigative records have been made public, while hundreds of attorneys and over 500 staff members continue to review the backlog for redactions[2][5]. The Epstein Files Transparency Act set a December deadline that was missed, and the agency cites victim‑privacy concerns for the slow pace[5].

Poll shows two‑thirds of Americans think the government is withholding files. CNN‑SSRS survey conducted after the missed deadline found 66% of respondents believe information is being deliberately withheld, with higher skepticism among Democrats and independents than Republicans[4]. Satisfaction with the releases is under 6%, and former President Trump dismissed the files as a “Democratic hoax”[4].

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