Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted accomplice of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, refused to testify before a House committee on February 10, 2026, instead demanding a pardon from former President Donald Trump, according to reports from the Associated Press and Deutschlandfunk.
Maxwell’s refusal came during a closed-door session of the House committee, where members sought answers regarding her and Epstein’s criminal activities and potential co-conspirators. Representative James Comer, chairing the session, expressed disappointment, stating Maxwell declined to answer any questions. Democratic Representative Suhas Subramanyam suggested the silence was a calculated move to secure a pardon from Trump.
The demand for a pardon echoes Trump’s past statements regarding the release of Epstein-related documents. During his 2024 campaign, Trump promised to reveal details of Epstein’s client list, alleging the involvement of prominent politicians and business figures in Epstein’s sex trafficking network. Still, the Justice Department under his administration has resisted full disclosure, citing the lack of additional documents and, in some cases, the graphic nature of existing materials, as reported by Tagesschau.de.
The stalled release of the “Epstein files” has fueled discontent among Trump’s supporters, particularly within the “MAGA” movement. Online, pro-Trump spaces are rife with arguments over the issue, with some questioning the White House’s motives, according to the BBC. Ultra-conservative influencers, including Laura Loomer, Steve Bannon, Brandon Tatum, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, have publicly criticized Trump’s foreign policy and spending, signaling a broader fracture within his base, as detailed in a report by The Conversation.
Adding to the complexity, allegations have surfaced linking Epstein to Russian intelligence. An investigation by the Dossier Center, a Russian investigative organization funded by exiled businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky, revealed a close collaboration between Epstein and Moscow. The Dossier Center’s findings, reported by Internazionale, suggest Epstein sought to exploit economic opportunities in Russia although providing the Kremlin with advice on circumventing sanctions and accessing Western individuals of interest to Russian intelligence services.
Key to this alleged relationship was Sergey Beljakov, a former Russian deputy minister of economic development and director of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Documents obtained by the Dossier Center indicate Beljakov sought Epstein’s assistance in bypassing Western sanctions as early as 2014. Epstein, in turn, reportedly offered advice on countering Western economic pressure on Russia and facilitated the attendance of Western business leaders at the St. Petersburg forum.
The connection extended to alleged efforts to resolve issues involving Russian nationals. In July 2015, Epstein reportedly contacted Beljakov regarding a “Russian girl from Moscow,” Guzel Ganieva, who was attempting to blackmail a close associate of Epstein, billionaire Leon Black. Beljakov allegedly provided Epstein with information on Ganieva, leading to the resolution of the situation and substantial payments from Black to Epstein.
The Dossier Center’s investigation also uncovered Epstein’s use of Russian banks, now subject to sanctions, to manage payments related to his sex trafficking network. A significant number of Epstein’s victims originated from Russia, Belarus, and other Eastern European countries, establishing a direct financial link between his criminal activities and financial institutions in those states. One account associated with Epstein recorded 4,725 money transfers totaling $1.1 billion.
Epstein’s network also included individuals with ties to Russian intelligence. Svetlana Pozhidaeva, known as Lana, Epstein’s assistant, received a U.S. O-1 visa based on a recommendation letter from Beljakov. Pozhidaeva’s background includes education at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, a training ground for Russian diplomats and intelligence officers, and representation by an agency linked to Epstein’s procurer, Jean-Luc Brunel, who was found dead in his cell in 2020.
Former KGB defector Yuri Shvets has suggested Pozhidaeva was an infiltrator tasked with penetrating the U.S. Technology sector, a claim supported by the observation that many Russian computer scientists operate for major U.S. Tech companies. Shvets argues that Russia views artificial intelligence and advanced technologies as critical to national security.
The relationship between Epstein and Israel is also under scrutiny. Recent disclosures of the “Epstein files” reveal connections to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who resided in an apartment owned by Epstein for years, and to Ghislaine Maxwell’s father, Robert Maxwell, a media mogul with significant investments in Israel and suspected ties to Israeli intelligence, as reported by Al Jazeera. Documents suggest Epstein invested millions in Israeli companies and donated to organizations supporting the Israeli military and settlements.
The Justice Department has not announced any further steps regarding the release of the Epstein files, and Maxwell remains incarcerated, serving a 20-year sentence. The House committee has not scheduled further hearings on the matter.