Disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell has refused to answer questions as part of US Congress’s probe into paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. The 64-year-old appeared remotely via videolink before the House Oversight Committee in Washington on Monday, but those in the room said her lawyer used the opportunity to “campaign” for a pardon from President Donald Trump. Maxwell, the former girlfriend and confidant of Epstein, invoked her Fifth Amendment rights to avoid answering questions that would be self-incriminating. The daughter of the former British newspaper mogul Robert Maxwell was to be questioned during a video call to the federal prison camp in Texas where she’s serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.

She’s come under new scrutiny as lawmakers try to investigate how Epstein, a well-connected financier, was able to sexually abuse underage girls for years. Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. In a post on X after her questioning, Maxwell’s legal representative, David Markus, said his client would be “prepared to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency by President Trump”.

Mr Markus also said: “Some may not like what they hear, but the truth matters. For example, both President Trump and President (Bill) Clinton are innocent of any wrongdoing.

“Ms Maxwell alone can explain why, and the public is entitled to that explanation.”

Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, James Comer, told reporters Maxwell should not be entitled to immunity.

Addressing the disgraced socialite’s decision to remain silent, Mr Comer said: “This is obviously very disappointing, we had many questions to ask about the crimes she and Epstein committed, as well as questions about potential co-conspirators.”

During her three-week trial in 2021, prosecutors described Maxwell as “dangerous”, and said she helped entice vulnerable teenagers to Epstein’s properties for him to sexually abuse.

She was sentenced to 20 years in prison at the federal court in the southern district of New York in June 2022.

Maxwell has been seeking to have her conviction overturned, arguing that she was wrongfully convicted.

The Supreme Court rejected her appeal last year, but in December requested that a federal judge in New York consider what her attorneys describe as “substantial new evidence” that her trial was spoiled by constitutional violations.

Mr Comer had subpoenaed Maxwell last year, but her attorneys have consistently told the committee that she won’t answer questions.