House panel postpones Ghislaine Maxwell deposition, says ‘good-faith negotiations’ continue

WASHINGTON — House Republicans agreed Friday to postpone an Aug. 11 deposition with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, hours after she was transferred to a low-security federal prison in Texas.

Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) denied requests from Maxwell’s lawyer David Oscar Markus to provide immunity in exchange for her testimony — but agreed to push the interview back until after the US Supreme Court considers an appeal of the disgraced socialite’s 2021 federal conviction.

Maxwell, 63, was moved Friday to a Bryan, Texas, facility dubbed “Club Fed” for its cushy accoutrements, as her lawyer still seeks avenues to overturn a 20-year sentence for the trafficking and abuse of dozens of minors — some as young as 14 years old.

“Regarding your requested conditions, the Committee is willing to continue to engage in good faith negotiations,” Comer wrote to Markus.

“However, the Committee is unwilling to grant you congressional immunity … at this time,” he said. “Further, while the Committee is unwilling to send you questions in advance, the Committee will continue its long-standing practice of engaging in forthright and detailed discussions about scoping.”

“On July 30, the U.S. Supreme Court noticed that your petition for writ of certiorari will be considered at its conference on September 29,” Comer added. “In light of this notice, the Committee is willing to delay your deposition until a date following the Court’s certiorari determination.”

“We acknowledge Chairman Comer’s letter and appreciate the Committee’s willingness to delay Ms. Maxwell’s deposition while her case is pending before the Supreme Court,” Markus and fellow attorney Melissa Madrigal said in a statement.

“We will continue to engage with Congress in good faith to find a way for Ms. Maxwell to share her information without compromising her constitutional rights.”