Ali Rogin Ali Rogin

Ali Schmitz Ali Schmitz

The fallout from the recent release of Epstein files continued on Monday. Epstein's longtime associate and convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell declined to answer questions from a congressional committee. She said she was invoking her Fifth Amendment rights to avoid self-incrimination. It came on the same day that lawmakers were given access to view unredacted files. Ali Rogin reports.

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Welcome to the "News Hour."

The fallout from the recent release of the Epstein files is continuing. His longtime associate and convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell declined today to answer questions from a congressional committee in a closed-door deposition.

Maxwell, who was subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee last year, said she was invoking her Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination. She appeared by video from a prison camp in Texas, where she's serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking and other crimes.

Maxwell's deposition comes the same day lawmakers were given access to view the unredacted files. That includes two congressmen who led the congressional push to release the Epstein documents. That's Congressmen Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA):

It has exposed people in the highest levels in technology, in finance, in real estate. It has exposed the establishment and monarchies in other countries. So our push is, how do we expose this and have accountability, not how do we score political points or have retribution?

Our justice correspondent, Ali Rogin, has been tracking all of this and joins us now.

So, Ali, let's start with today's developments. What did we learn?

There were a number of actions today that really were efforts to pierce through this shroud of secrecy that still remains around many of these documents.

We did just hear from Congressmen Massie and Khanna. They said they have seen the names of six men whose names were redacted in the public version that they were able to see today who they said would likely be incriminated by their inclusion in these files. They did not name the six men, but Massie said one was a U.S. citizen, one is a foreign national.

Four -- the other four, he said he could not determine what nationality they were based on their names. He did say, though, that one, presumably the one that we know is a foreign national, is pretty high up in a foreign government.

This is all happening as we're learning that the FBI wrote a summary in 2025 saying that there were -- quote -- "four or five Epstein accusers" who were claiming abuse at the hands of men and women. Of course, we know that many more survivors have come forward than four or five, but that there was not enough evidence to federally charge these individuals, so the cases were referred to local law enforcement.

Meanwhile, as you mentioned, Ghislaine Maxwell pleaded the Fifth today during her deposition before the House Oversight Committee. But her lawyer did say that she would -- quote -- "very much like to answer questions if President Trump grants her clemency."

He added -- quote -- "Both President Trump and President Clinton are innocent of any wrongdoing. Ms. Maxwell alone can explain why and the public is entitled to that explanation."

The last time, Geoff, President Trump was asked about this, he said he wouldn't rule in or out granting Ghislaine Maxwell a pardon.

And, separately, we know that President Clinton has agreed to appear before this committee at the request of the Republicans who lead it. Have those details been worked out?

We know so far that former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are slated to sit for separate closed-door videotaped interviews before the -- depositions before the House Oversight Committee.

But now Bill Clinton is saying that he does not want that deposition to be videotaped, but that he would participate in a public hearing that people can watch in real time.

But House Oversight Committee chair James Comer said today that this is the way that he's conducted all of the depositions in this investigation so far. And he told us today that Hillary Clinton's is scheduled for February 27 and Bill Clinton for March 11.

And there is an international aspect to this, because you have U.S. allies that are dealing with their own version of the Epstein scandal. How is this landing overseas?

There seem to be far bigger consequences for political leaders in the U.K. than there are here in the United States. The fallout in the U.K. centers around Peter Mandelson, who was serving as the U.K. ambassador to the United States. He was appointed to that role by Keir Starmer.

Police are now investigating Mandelson for alleged misconduct in public office tied to e-mails he sent Epstein in which he shared government information. Mandelson maintains he did nothing criminal, but the fallout is already centering around Prime Minister Starmer. He's facing calls to resign, including from members of his own party.

Already, his chief of staff and communications director have resigned over this. And, today, he met with members of his own Labor Party, presumably to try to shore up some support. Also under police investigation is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, King Charles' brother. The king said today through a spokesperson that he -- quote -- "stands ready to support the investigation" and that, Geoff, his thoughts remain with the victims.

And yet no such reckoning stateside. Why?

That's exactly right.

And it's really -- although we should note that just being mentioned in these files is not a suggestion that there was any wrongdoing.

But the split screen that is playing out between the political crisis in the U.K. and business as normal in the U.S. is really striking.

And that's as new details are coming out about President Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's connection to Epstein and things that they have told investigators. We now know that Lutnick had even more social interactions with Epstein than had previously been revealed. We covered that last week on this show a little bit.

Now we know that Lutnick and Epstein both signed documents to invest in a private company on the same day. And they traded cordial messages for years about Manhattan real estate. Lutnick invited Epstein to a fund-raiser for Hillary Clinton in 2015.

A spokesperson for the Department of Commerce says this is a distraction and that the two men met in 2005 and had -- quote -- "very limited interactions with him over the next 14 years."

And, Geoff, on Trump himself, there are new files reported on tonight by The Miami Herald that President Trump, not then-President Trump, told investigators back in 2006 that -- quote -- "Everyone knows he's been doing this," referring to Jeffrey Epstein, which, of course, contradicts many of the things we have heard publicly over the years from President Trump about the nature of his relationship and when it ended.

So much to track, and yet we can't lose sight of the survivors. What are they saying about all this?

That's exactly right.

Yesterday evening, to coincide with Super Bowl Sunday, the anti-human trafficking nonprofit World Without Exploitation released a 40-second PSA featuring Epstein survivors.

We're standing together.

Because this girl deserves the truth.

Because she deserves the truth.

Because we all deserve the truth.

Geoff, this clip concludes with a Q.R. code inviting viewers to sign a petition urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to release evidence they say exists and to provide an explanation for why millions of pages remain withheld from public view.

Ali Rogin, thank you for this reporting. We appreciate it.

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By Danica Kirka, Associated Press

By Stephen Groves, Associated Press

By Michael R. Sisak, David B. Caruso, Larry Neumeister, Associated Press

Geoff Bennett Geoff Bennett

Geoff Bennett serves as co-anchor and co-managing editor of PBS News Hour. He also serves as an NBC News and MSNBC political contributor.

Ali Rogin Ali Rogin

Ali Rogin is a correspondent for the PBS News Hour and PBS News Weekend, reporting on a number of topics including foreign affairs, health care and arts and culture. She received a Peabody Award in 2021 for her work on News Hour’s series on the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect worldwide. Rogin is also the recipient of two Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association and has been a part of several teams nominated for an Emmy, including for her work covering the fall of ISIS in 2020, the Las Vegas mass shooting in 2017, the inauguration of President Barack Obama in 2014, and the 2010 midterm elections.

Ali Schmitz Ali Schmitz

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