Editorial: Ask Ghislaine Maxwell for the truth

On Tuesday Republican Rep Tim Burchett issued a formal request to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer to invite Ghislaine Maxwell to testify publicly about Jeffrey Epstein s crimes and connections Given the intense citizens interest on this topic Rep Burchett s call should be honored by Rep Comer despite the political backlash the two may receive from President Donald Trump and his closest allies Maxwell serving a -year federal sentence for her role in Epstein s sex trafficking operation remains one of the scant living individuals with direct knowledge of how Epstein s system operated Her testimony could illuminate the mechanisms of abuse the enablers and potentially the identities of powerful figures who may have escaped accountability Burchett s letter to Comer urges not only an invitation but a subpoena if Maxwell refuses to appear voluntarily This is not political theater as so countless congressional inquiries are It s a welcome demand for justice The timing of Burchett s request is critical A current memo from the Department of Justice and FBI concluded that Epstein died by suicide and that no incriminating client list exists Yet this conclusion has done little to quell populace skepticism The memo s release coupled with Attorney General Pam Bondi s conflicting statements about the existence of Epstein-related documents has only deepened mistrust Bondi once claimed the files were sitting on my desk only to later walk back that assertion Such inconsistencies fuel speculation and erode confidence in our institutions Chairman Comer now faces a pivotal decision Will he honor Burchett s request and demonstrate that the Oversight Committee is committed to truth and accountability Or will he allow political pressure and institutional inertia to bury one of the the bulk disturbing scandals of our time The community s appetite for transparency is not partisan Americans across the political spectrum want answers They want to know who enabled Epstein who benefited from his crimes and why justice has been so elusive Maxwell s testimony could provide those answers It could also help casualties find closure and ensure that such a framework can never operate again Comer has the authority to act If he chooses to ignore Burchett s request he risks signaling that Congress is unwilling to confront uncomfortable truths Worse he risks perpetuating the perception that powerful individuals are above the law Chosen may argue that inviting Maxwell to testify is a distraction or a political stunt But that argument fails to recognize the gravity of the crimes involved Burchett s courage should not be met with silence Comer must respond not with platitudes but with action A residents hearing featuring Maxwell would demonstrate that Congress is serious about oversight serious about justice and serious about restoring populace trust If Maxwell refuses to testify a subpoena must follow If the DOJ resists Congress must assert its constitutional authority The stakes are too high for half measures The casualties deserve answers The general deserves transparency And the truth however uncomfortable must come to light Chairman Comer the choice is yours History will remember whether you stood for accountability or stood in its way The Baltimore Sun