Stacey Plaskett Censure: House Votes to Rebuke Delegate

House Set to Censure Stacey Plaskett Over Epstein Contact

The House of Representatives is poised to formally censure Democratic Delegate Stacey Plaskett for her communications with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with a final vote expected Tuesday evening. The dramatic move comes after lawmakers defeated a Democratic effort to refer the resolution to the House Ethics Committee.

Background of the Censure Resolution

Introduced by Republican Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina through a fast-track process that bypassed standard committee protocols, the resolution would deliver a formal rebuke to Plaskett and strip her of her position on the House Intelligence Committee. The action stems from documents released from Epstein's estate that revealed Plaskett exchanged text messages with Epstein while she was testifying before Congress in 2019.

"This resolution sends a clear message that members of Congress must maintain the highest ethical standards," said Rep. Norman in a statement.

Key Votes and Partisan Divide

Lawmakers voted 214-213 to send the measure directly to the House floor instead of the Ethics Committee. The near party-line vote saw Republicans join forces, with two exceptions: Reps. Lance Gooden (R-Texas) and Dave Joyce (R-OH) voting with Democrats to send the resolution to ethics review.

This political maneuvering comes on the same day the House voted 427-1 to force the Justice Department to release more information about its Epstein case, with only Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) opposing the bill over privacy concerns.

Broader Context: Committee Removals

If adopted, Plaskett would become the second House Democrat removed from a committee role in recent years. Last Congress, Republicans voted to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from the Foreign Affairs Committee over her comments regarding Israel. The pattern underscores escalating partisan tensions over ethics and conduct.

What Happens Next?

The full House vote on the censure resolution will determine whether Plaskett faces this formal disciplinary action. Separately, the Senate is poised to pass the Epstein documents bill by unanimous consent as early as Tuesday, with President Trump indicating he will sign it into law.

Plaskett, a nonvoting delegate representing the U.S. Virgin Islands, has not yet commented on the potential censure. The resolution marks a significant development in congressional oversight of member conduct, particularly regarding associations with controversial figures.