Stacey Plaskett Defends Epstein Texts, Cites 'Information Gathering' in Congressional Hearing
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Delegate Stacey Plaskett of the US Virgin Islands faced intense scrutiny following the release of text messages she exchanged with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a February 2019 House Oversight Committee hearing. A recent vote in the House of Representatives narrowly rejected a censure resolution against Plaskett, with 214 members voting against and 209 in favor. Plaskett has defended her actions, stating that she treated the messages as she would with any informant. In an interview with CNN, she explained that as a prosecutor, she often receives information from individuals, and she believed Epstein had valuable insights that could aid in uncovering the truth. Plaskett's spokesperson emphasized that the delegate receives numerous texts from various individuals during hearings and that her long history of combating sexual assault and human trafficking demonstrates her genuine motives. However, opponents have raised concerns about the power dynamics at play and the fact that Epstein was a convicted sex offender by 2019. They argue that Plaskett's justification ignores these factors and instead suggests a deeper connection between Epstein and Democratic lawmakers. The House has since passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, calling for the public release of previously classified documents related to Epstein's case. The measure was approved by a significant majority, with only one member voting against it in the House and receiving unanimous Senate approval.
