Stacey Plaskett Epstein Sparks Capitol Firestorm

High-Stakes Battle: Plaskett Faces Censure Over Epstein Contact

Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-V.I.) finds herself at the center of a political firestorm as House Republicans move to formally censure her and remove her from the powerful House Intelligence Committee. The dramatic move stems from newly released files from the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, revealing communications between Plaskett and Epstein during a critical 2019 congressional hearing.

The Epstein Revelation: Texts During a Hearing

The controversy erupted after documents released by Epstein's estate showed Plaskett texting with the disgraced financier while she was on the House Oversight Committee. The texts, detailed in a Washington Post report, revealed that Epstein suggested potential questions for Plaskett to ask Trump associate Michael Cohen during his testimony. Notably, Plaskett subsequently posed one of Epstein's suggested inquiries to Cohen regarding other Trump associates the committee might interview.

Plaskett's office issued a swift defense, stating she received texts from "staff, constituents and the public at large," including Epstein, and emphasizing her "long record combating sexual assault and human trafficking, her disgust over Epstein's deviant behavior and her support for his victims." The congresswoman also stated on the House floor, "I don't need to get advice on how to question anybody from any individual. I have been a lawyer for 30 years."

"I don't think it is the position of [Rep. Ralph Norman] that if we find Jeffrey Epstein on the phone with Donald Trump, that he should be impeached for it."
— Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Ranking Member, House Judiciary Committee

Republican Push for Removal

Republicans, led by Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), seized on the revelations. Norman introduced a four-page resolution that directly censures Plaskett for "inappropriate coordination with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein," arguing her actions "reflect discreditably on the House of Representatives." The resolution further demands an Ethics Committee investigation into "the extent of Plaskett's ties to Epstein and any potential further improprieties."

Crucially, the resolution specifically targets Plaskett's seat on the House Intelligence Committee, which grants members access to highly classified national security information. While Plaskett would remain on the Ways and Means and Budget committees, removal from Intelligence is a significant political rebuke.

Partisan Division and Failed Maneuver

The situation unfolded rapidly on November 18, 2025. Democrats attempted to derail the censure resolution by referring it to the Ethics Committee, arguing for a cooler, more deliberative review. However, this motion failed on a near party-line vote of 213-214. Only two Republicans, Reps. Lance Gooden (Texas) and Dave Joyce (Ohio), joined Democrats in favor of the referral.

House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) condemned the resolution as "a baseless, politically motivated attack." Conversely, Republicans framed it as necessary accountability. The final vote on the censure resolution and Plaskett's removal was scheduled for the same evening.

Broader Context: Epstein, the Virgin Islands, and Partisan Politics

The controversy is deeply rooted in Epstein's history. His primary residence was on Little St. James, part of the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Plaskett serves as the non-voting delegate. Epstein donated significant sums to Plaskett and other territorial politicians, a fact that became a major controversy after his 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges. The newly revealed texts occurred after Epstein's 2008 guilty plea but before his 2019 arrest.

Adding another layer, the House Oversight Committee, chaired by James Comer (R-Ky.), issued subpoenas the same day for Epstein's financial records from J.P. Morgan Chase and Deutsche Bank, and requested documents from the U.S. Virgin Islands Attorney General Gordon Rhea. The subpoena to the AG's office directly referenced Plaskett's consulting with Epstein.

What's at Stake: Implications Beyond Plaskett

The outcome of the vote carries significant weight. If successful, Plaskett would become the latest House Democrat removed from a committee role by Republicans, following Rep. Ilhan Omar's (D-Minn.) ousting from the Foreign Affairs Committee last Congress. This move highlights the deep partisan divides and the weaponization of ethics investigations in modern Washington.

Democrats like Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Plaskett's former law professor, argued the resolution set a dangerous precedent. "I don't think it is the position of [Norman] that if we find Jeffrey Epstein on the phone with Donald Trump, that he should be impeached for it," Raskin stated on the floor, framing the action as "guilt by association."

The Plaskett case also underscores the intense pressure surrounding the broader Epstein investigation, which saw both chambers of Congress vote overwhelmingly to force the Justice Department to release more information about its case against the deceased financier. As the House vote loomed, the political fallout from the Epstein files continued to reverberate through the halls of power.