Latest news with #HouseofRepresentativesCommitteeonOversightandGovernmentReform
Japan Today
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Epstein associate Maxwell seeks immunity as condition for testimony to US Congress
FILE PHOTO: Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell stands at the podium to address Judge Alison Nathan during her sentencing in a courtroom sketch in New York City, U.S. June 28, 2022. By Richard Cowan A longtime associate of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the subject of a political storm surrounding President Donald Trump, on Tuesday sought immunity from future prosecution as a condition for testifying to a U.S. congressional committee. The Republican-led House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform aims to conduct a deposition of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell on August 11 at the prison in Tallahassee, Florida, where she is serving a 20-year sentence. Maxwell, Epstein's longtime girlfriend, was convicted in New York in 2021 of helping Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls. "Ms. Maxwell cannot risk further criminal exposure in a politically charged environment without formal immunity," Maxwell's lawyer David Markus told Representative James Comer, who chairs the House committee, in a letter. Markus laid down additional conditions for a deposition, including conducting it somewhere other than the prison and being provided with the committee's questions in advance. Maxwell, Markus added, would testify to the committee in a public setting if she were to be granted clemency. Maxwell is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn her conviction. Trump has said he was not considering a presidential pardon for Maxwell. Questions over Trump's past relationship with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking minors, and his administration's handling of records related to the case have dogged the president for weeks, including during a weekend visit to Scotland. Trump knew Epstein socially in the 1990s and early 2000s. Trump has said that he cut off ties with Epstein years before Epstein's death. Democrats in Congress and some of Trump's core supporters have demanded the release of documents involving Epstein and Maxwell. Epstein served a 13-month jail sentence after pleading guilty in 2008 to a Florida state felony prostitution charge. Democrats on Tuesday sought more information about the matter. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse wrote to the Justice Department, asking for a copy of the transcript of a recent conversation a department official had with Maxwell. In addition, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called on the FBI to conduct a "counterintelligence threat assessment" to determine the risk to U.S. national security if a foreign entity were to gain access to the Epstein files. "Could our adversaries use that information to blackmail someone like the president or other senior leaders in government?" Schumer asked. © (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025.
ABC News
29-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Donald Trump says Jeffrey Epstein 'stole' young women, including Virginia Giuffre, from Mar-a-Lago
US President Donald Trump says he fell out with Jeffrey Epstein because the convicted sex offender "stole" young women, including Virginia Giuffre, from his Mar-a-Lago club. His admission on Tuesday, local time, came as Epstein's long-time associate Ghislaine Maxwell sought immunity from future prosecution as a condition for testifying to a US congressional committee. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One while flying home from Scotland, Mr Trump gave some of his most expansive public comments yet about his falling out with Epstein, the wealthy and well-connected financier who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking underage girls. "People were taken out of the [Mar-a-Lago] spa, hired by him, in other words, gone," Mr Trump said. "When I heard about it, I told him, I said, 'Listen, we don't want you taking our people.' "And then, not too long after that, he did it again. And I said, 'Out of here.'" Mr Trump also confirmed that one of the Mar-a-Lago spa attendants taken by Epstein was Ms Giuffre, the Australian who brought a civil case against Epstein's friend Prince Andrew, accusing him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17. Ms Giuffre, who accused Epstein of using her as a sex slave, took her own life at her home in Australia in April. "I think she worked at the spa," Mr Trump told reporters. "I think that was one of the people. He stole her." The White House has said previously Mr Trump threw Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago club two decades ago "for being a creep", and US media have reported that they became estranged over a Florida real estate deal. Mr Trump's comments came as lawyers for Ms Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend, said they were open to having their client cooperate with Congress, but wanted her to be guaranteed immunity by politicians first. The Republican-led House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform aims to conduct a deposition of the British socialite on August 11 at the Florida prison where she is serving a 20-year sentence. Maxwell was convicted in New York in 2021 of helping Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls. "Ms Maxwell cannot risk further criminal exposure in a politically charged environment without formal immunity," Maxwell's lawyer, David Markus, told Representative James Comer, who chairs the House committee, in a letter. Mr Markus laid down additional conditions for a deposition, including conducting it somewhere other than the prison, and being provided with the committee's questions in advance. He added that his client would testify to the committee in a public setting if she were to be granted clemency. Maxwell is asking the US Supreme Court to overturn her conviction. Mr Trump has said he is not considering a presidential pardon for her. Questions over Mr Trump's past relationship with Epstein and his administration's handling of records related to the case have dogged the president for weeks, including during a weekend visit to Scotland. Mr Trump knew Epstein socially in the 1990s and early 2000s. He said that he cut off ties with Epstein years before Epstein's death. Democrats in Congress and some of Mr Trump's core supporters have demanded the release of documents involving Epstein and Maxwell. Epstein served a 13-month jail sentence after pleading guilty in 2008 to a Florida state felony prostitution charge. AP/AFP
Reuters
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Epstein associate Maxwell seeks immunity as condition for testimony to US Congress
WASHINGTON, July 29 (Reuters) - A longtime associate of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the subject of a political storm surrounding President Donald Trump, on Tuesday sought immunity from future prosecution as a condition for testifying to a U.S. congressional committee. The Republican-led House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform aims to conduct a deposition of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell on August 11 at the prison in Tallahassee, Florida, where she is serving a 20-year sentence. Maxwell, Epstein's longtime girlfriend, was convicted in New York in 2021 of helping Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls. "Ms. Maxwell cannot risk further criminal exposure in a politically charged environment without formal immunity," Maxwell's lawyer David Markus told Representative James Comer, who chairs the House committee, in a letter. Markus laid down additional conditions for a deposition, including conducting it somewhere other than the prison and being provided with the committee's questions in advance. Maxwell, Markus added, would testify to the committee in a public setting if she were to be granted clemency. Maxwell is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn her conviction. Trump has said he was not considering a presidential pardon for Maxwell. Questions over Trump's past relationship with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking minors, and his administration's handling of records related to the case have dogged the president for weeks, including during a weekend visit to Scotland. Trump knew Epstein socially in the 1990s and early 2000s. Trump has said that he cut off ties with Epstein years before Epstein's death. Democrats in Congress and some of Trump's core supporters have demanded the release of documents involving Epstein and Maxwell. Epstein served a 13-month jail sentence after pleading guilty in 2008 to a Florida state felony prostitution charge. Democrats on Tuesday sought more information about the matter. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse wrote to the Justice Department, asking for a copy of the transcript of a recent conversation a department official had with Maxwell. In addition, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called on the FBI to conduct a "counterintelligence threat assessment" to determine the risk to U.S. national security if a foreign entity were to gain access to the Epstein files. "Could our adversaries use that information to blackmail someone like the president or other senior leaders in government?" Schumer asked.
Straits Times
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Epstein associate Maxwell seeks immunity as condition for testimony to US Congress
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell stands at the podium to address Judge Alison Nathan during her sentencing in a courtroom sketch in New York City, U.S. June 28, 2022. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg/File Photo WASHINGTON - A longtime associate of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the subject of a political storm surrounding President Donald Trump, on Tuesday sought immunity from future prosecution as a condition for testifying to a U.S. congressional committee. The Republican-led House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform aims to conduct a deposition of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell on August 11 at the prison in Tallahassee, Florida, where she is serving a 20-year sentence. Maxwell, Epstein's longtime girlfriend, was convicted in New York in 2021 of helping Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls. "Ms. Maxwell cannot risk further criminal exposure in a politically charged environment without formal immunity," Maxwell's lawyer David Markus told Representative James Comer, who chairs the House committee, in a letter. Markus laid down additional conditions for a deposition, including conducting it somewhere other than the prison and being provided with the committee's questions in advance. Maxwell, Markus added, would testify to the committee in a public setting if she were to be granted clemency. Maxwell is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn her conviction. Trump has said he was not considering a presidential pardon for Maxwell. Questions over Trump's past relationship with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking minors, and his administration's handling of records related to the case have dogged the president for weeks, including during a weekend visit to Scotland. Trump knew Epstein socially in the 1990s and early 2000s. Trump has said that he cut off ties with Epstein years before Epstein's death. Democrats in Congress and some of Trump's core supporters have demanded the release of documents involving Epstein and Maxwell. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business No clarity yet on baseline or pharmaceutical tariffs with US: DPM Gan Singapore Grace Fu apologises for Tanjong Katong sinkhole, says road may stay closed for a few more days Singapore Terrorism threat in Singapore remains high, driven by events like Israeli-Palestinian conflict: ISD Singapore Liquidators score victory to recoup over $900 million from alleged scammer Ng Yu Zhi's associates Singapore Man on trial for raping woman who hired him to repair lights in her flat Sport IOC president Kirsty Coventry a 'huge supporter' of Singapore Singapore Child and firefighter among 7 taken to hospital after fire breaks out in Toa Payoh flat Singapore S'pore can and must meaningfully apply tech like AI in a way that creates jobs for locals: PM Wong Epstein served a 13-month jail sentence after pleading guilty in 2008 to a Florida state felony prostitution charge. Democrats on Tuesday sought more information about the matter. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse wrote to the Justice Department, asking for a copy of the transcript of a recent conversation a department official had with Maxwell. In addition, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called on the FBI to conduct a "counterintelligence threat assessment" to determine the risk to U.S. national security if a foreign entity were to gain access to the Epstein files. "Could our adversaries use that information to blackmail someone like the president or other senior leaders in government?" Schumer asked. REUTERS
