Stacey Plaskett, a Democrat who represents the US Virgin Islands in Congress as a non-voting delegate, received texts from convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein during a 2019 congressional hearing, the delegate’s workplace confirmed to NCS.
“During the hearing, Congresswoman Plaskett received texts from staff, constituents and the public at large offering advice, support and in some cases partisan vitriol, including from Epstein,” Plaskett’s spokesperson, Angeline Jabbar, stated in an announcement to NCS. “As a former prosecutor she welcomes information that helps her get at the truth and took on the GOP that was trying to bury the truth. The congresswoman has previously made clear her long record combating sexual assault and human trafficking, her disgust over Epstein’s deviant behavior and her support for his victims.”
The texts, first reported by the Washington Post, had been launched Wednesday as a part of roughly 20,000 pages of documents made public by the House Oversight Committee.
The launched textual content messages redact the title of the particular person Epstein was texting with on February 27, 2019 — the day former Trump private lawyer Michael Cohen testified to the House Oversight Committee in regards to the president’s conflicts of pursuits, enterprise practices and funds to Trump’s alleged mistresses to silence their tales earlier than the 2016 elections.
The Washington Post analyzed the textual content messages and in contrast them to footage of the hearing to report Plaskett was texting Epstein.
At the time, Epstein had already been convicted of two state prostitution prices, which he served 13 months for. A number of months after the textual content trade befell, he can be charged with sex trafficking minors.
According to the Post, Epstein appeared to have been watching the hearing and his texts to Plaskett appeared to affect what the delegate requested Cohen.
The Post reported that in a single trade, Epstein texted Plaskett: “Cohen brought up RONA – keeper of the secrets,” referring to — and misspelling the primary title of — Rhona Graff, a longtime Trump assistant.
Plaskett responded: “RONA??” She added at 2:25 p.m, “Quick I’m up next is that an acronym,” suggesting that she can be questioning Cohen quickly.
Epstein responded: “Thats his assistant.”
At 2:28 p.m., Plaskett started questioning Cohen and requested about Graff, together with different Trump associates he had talked about, in line with the Post.
In one other textual content, Epstein advised Plaskett “Good work” at 2:34 p.m. — a minute after Plaskett wrapped up her questioning, the Post reported.