James Comer Subpoenas Epstein Associate Ghislaine Maxwell For a Deposition In Prison

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer announced on Wednesday that he has subpoenaed longtime Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell for a deposition, which will take place on August 11 at a Florida prison.

"The Department of Justice is cooperating and will help facilitate the deposition at the prison," Comer said in a social media publication.

The announcement comes after the New York Post reported that Maxwell will try to cut a deal with authorities. "That's the way things are done. They make deals with the Mafia, so I'm certain they are going to try to make a deal with her," said Alan Dershowitz, a former Epstein lawyer.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on social media that he had requested the meeting to find more information about possible conspirators who had committed crimes in the sex trafficking ring. Maxwell, Epstein's loyal co-conspirator, often interacted with the powerful men he courted, including President Donald Trump.

He added in a statement posted by Attorney General Pam Bondi on social media that if "Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and DOJ will hear what she has to say," misspelling Maxwell's first time and claiming he was acting on Trump's instruction to release all "credible" evidence. Blanche said he anticipates meeting with Maxwell soon.

Maxwell's attorney told CNN they are "in discussions with the government" on the matter.

"Ghislaine will always testify truthfully. We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case," attorney David Oscar Markus said. Maxwell has also said through her brother she would be willing to testify before a Congressional Committee on her relationship with Epstein. Another expert told the Post that Maxwell could seek to lower her sentence in exchange for information related to Epstein.

Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison after a jury in Manhattan convicted her of sex trafficking and other crimes in 2022. As of now, it remains unclear whether the talks with the Trump administration will lead to a pardon or a reduction in her time behind bars.

Also on Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was informed in May that his named appeared in the Epstein files. The outlet detailed that Justice Department officials saw Trump's name several times while reviewing what Bondi described as a "truckload" of documents related to the disgraced financier and sex trafficker.

Bondi then informed Trump of the findings in May. She added that many other high-profile figures were also named, and the outlet added that being mentioned is not a sign of wrongdoing.

Officials said the files had unverified hearsay about many people who had socialized with Epstein in the past, including Trump. They added that they were not planning on releasing additional files because they contained child pornography and victims' personal information.

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer theorized that House Republicans declared an early summer recess not only to avoid voting on the Epstein files, but also to give President Donald Trump time to prepare documents to pardon Maxwell.

"The ghost of the disgraced Jeffrey Epstein is haunting our Republican colleagues so much so that Speaker Johnson decided to cut bait and send the House home to escape discussions about Epstein, instead of doing their jobs like grown-ups and making progress on appropriations," Schumer said in remarks on the Senate floor.