A Democrat who was caught texting Jeffrey Epstein during a hearing involving Donald Trump has claimed she had no idea that he was a sexual offender. House Delegate Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands) exchanged text messages with Epstein in 2018 while former Trump attorney Michael Cohen testified against the president at a committee hearing. Plaskett sought advice and guidance from Epstein about questions to ask Cohen while the committee hearing was live.
She represents the area of the country where Epstein lived at his infamous Little Saint James island. Prior to a House vote to censure Plaskett, the House lawmaker offered a stunning defense for why she was texting with Epstein, claiming she had no idea he was a sexual offender. ‘I got a text from Jeffrey Epstein, who at the time was my constituent, who was not public knowledge at that time, that he was under federal investigation.’ She added, ‘And who was sharing information with me.’
Epstein was convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution of a minor. Moreover, the Miami Herald in November 2018 released their bombshell three-part series that identified more than 60 women who said they were sexually abused by Epstein when they were underage. The Daily Mail reached out to Plaskett for comment. It is not clear how Plaskett obtained Epstein’s phone number or whether the two ever met in-person.
Plaskett’s speech on the House floor came before a Republican-led vote to censure and strip her of committee assignment for texting Epstein. Republicans, however, failed to gain enough votes to censure the Democrat over her relationship with the convicted sexual offender. The resolution to censure Plaskett was sabotaged by three Republican lawmakers who voted present. The final late censure vote tally 214-209.
Plaskett also blasted House Republicans for texting President Donald Trump, who she claimed was a convicted felon. ‘You want to talk about texting? Texting felons? How often do you text President Donald J. Trump?’ Plaskett said while addressing Republicans.
‘That’s the individual we should be concerned about. And let me tell you this, I am not gonna support the wealthy and connected who continue to exploit workers and evade taxes, powerful figures with credible allegations who face no consequences, and corporate interests profiting from human suffering while families struggle.’ Republican South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman, who introduced the legislation to censure Plaskett, erupted by claiming it was ‘beyond comprehension’ that Plaskett would work with Epstein during official House proceedings.
If the Republican censure would have passed, the House Ethics Committee would have opened an investigation into Plaskett’s relationship with Epstein. The investigation into the lawmaker’s relationship with the convicted sexual offender will likely not open following the censure resolution’s failure.
