Three Republicans Block Effort To Censure Democrat Linked To Jeffrey Epstein
The House of Representatives on Tuesday evening rejected a Republican-led effort to strip Democratic U.S. Virgin Islands delegate Stacey Plaskett of her top spot on the House Intelligence Committee, after a splinter group of Republicans joined with Democrats to defeat the measure.
Lawmakers voted 209-214 against formally censuring Plaskett, a non-voting delegate, after newly revealed text messages showed she consulted with the late convicted sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein during a congressional hearing in 2019. Three Republicans — Reps. Lance Gooden of Texas, Don Bacon of Nebraska and Dave Joyce of Ohio — joined Democrats in rejecting the resolution reprimanding Plaskett. (RELATED: ‘Quick, I’m Next’: Dem Del. Plaskett Caught Texting Epstein to Help Direct Questioning in Congressional Hearing)
Three other GOP lawmakers voted present: Reps. Jay Obernolte of California, Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania and Andrew Garbarino of New York. Four Republicans did not vote.
The censure resolution, proposed by South Carolina Republican Rep. Ralph Norman, was drafted in response to recently discovered texts between Plaskett and Epstein and released as part of a House Oversight Committee document dump last week. The messages appeared to show Plaskett consulting with Epstein about what to ask Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who was testifying at the February 2019 hearing.
Several conservative GOP lawmakers were furious with their Republican colleagues for helping defeat the resolution.
“I am totally disgusted by this bunch of losers,” Tennessee Republican Rep. Tim Burchett wrote on X.
A handful of Republicans helped defeat resolutions to censure Democratic Reps. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey and Illhan Omar of Minnesota earlier this year.
(L-R) U.S. Representatives Chip Roy, Republican of Texas, Ralph Norman, Republican of South Carolina, and Tim Burchett, Republican of Tennessee, speak to each other in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, January 3, 2025. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP) (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
Plaskett attempted to defend himself by calling Epstein, whose primary residence was the U.S. Virgin Islands, a normal interaction with a “constituent.” Epstein was notably a convicted sex offender in 2008, but only spent 13 months in county jail due to a controversial plea deal.
“Let me tell you something. I don’t need advice on how to question anyone. I’ve been a lawyer for 30 years,” Plaskett told the House Tuesday. “I’ve sought information from confidential informants, from murderers, from other people, because I want the truth, not because I need them to tell me what to say. »
Plaskett previously worked for the Justice Department before beginning a career in Congress in January 2015.
In sporadic texts during the hearing, Epstein mentioned Trump’s former executive assistant Rhona Graff, stating that “Cohen brought up RONA [sic] – keeper of secrets.
“RONA??” Plaskett replied. “Quick, I’ll be next, it’s an acronym,” she asked.
Epstein then clarified: “It’s [sic] his assistant.
The convicted sexual predator then told Plaskett “Good job” after finishing his questioning of Cohen.
Norman, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, and other members of the conservative group argued that Plaskett’s decision to collaborate with Epstein required a formal reprimand from the lower chamber.
“Using the input of a sex offender to shape questions during a formal hearing is UNACCEPTABLE and cannot go unanswered,” Norman wrote on X.
“Delegate Plaskett’s relationship with Epstein stands in stark contrast to the public image she created for herself as an advocate for justice and accountability while secretly collaborating with an individual whose crimes against vulnerable women and children shocked the nation,” the resolution reads in part.
Norman, a prominent budget hawk, is running in a highly charged primary for South Carolina governor in next year’s midterm elections.
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