Ghislaine Maxwell, an accomplice of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, is scheduled to appear today before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform via videoconference from prison. Serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking of minors, she faces a committee led by Republicans that is probing Epstein's connections with public figures and the handling of information regarding his crimes.

The appearance follows the release of new government files related to Epstein on January 30, which have led to political and business leaders globally being implicated in scandals or resigning due to their connections with the sex offender. This has heightened scrutiny around the systemic issues of Epstein's network and how the allegations were managed, although no new charges are anticipated against Maxwell at this time.

Maxwell is expected to assert her constitutional right against self-incrimination during her hearing, a move that could limit the impact of the testimony on ongoing investigations. This case continues to resonate, drawing attention to the broader implications of sexual exploitation and the accountability of influential figures in such networks.