While Republicans are still reeling from President Donald Trump seemingly becoming the face of the Epstein file scandal, Democrats now have some answering to do themselves after alleged text messages between a House delegate and convicted child abuser Jeffrey Epstein were just released to the public.
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Last week, Congress published 20,000 documents connected to Epstein, we previously told you. The public quickly focused on files referencing Trump, but now, Republicans are calling attention to one Black congresswoman’s alleged texts with the disgraced financier.
S.C. Rep. Ralph Norman introduced a resolution to censure House Del. Stacey Plaskett of the Virgin Islands in light of her 2019 texts with Epstein, the Washington Times reported. The non-voting delegate reportedly engaged in messages months before Epstein’s July 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges. The shocking content of the alleged messages suggest he had some type of influence over the congresswoman.
According to the documents obtained by The Independent, Plaskett was about to question former Trump attorney Michael Cohen during a February 2019 Oversight Committee hearing about the 45th president. Cohen accused Trump of financial fraud, which the president has since denied. The hearing was broadcasted live, and it seems like Epstein was tuning in from somewhere around the world.
Before Plaskett took position, Epstein pointed out to her that Cohen mentioned a “RONA” in his testimony. “Cohen brought up RONA – keeper of the secrets,” Epstein texted, referring to Trump’s former executive assistant Rhona Graff.
In the 20,000 documents, Plaskett’s name is redacted, but given the timing of the messages and her publicized questioning of Cohen, insiders believe Epstein was in fact communicating with the delegate.
“RONA??” the person believed to be Plaskett responded. “Quick I’m up next is that an acronym.” That’s when Epstein clarified he was talking about Trump’s assistant. Minutes later, Plaskett took the mic and asked Cohen about the former executive assistant by name.
“Rhona Graff is Mr. Trump’s executive assistant,” Cohen then replied. “She was… her office is directly next to his, and she’s involved in a lot that went on,” he added in 2019. One minute after Cohen’s responses, Epstein allegedly texted Plaskett “Good work,” the documents show.
House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris is one of many Republicans who want Plaskett to be censured in light of the messages, Fox News reported. The Maryland representative said, “She needs to be censured by the House and removed from the [House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence] for colluding with a convicted felon during a congressional hearing.” Harris continued, “That does not reflect well on the House of Representatives.”
The censure resolution is yet another attempt by Republicans to expose an alleged double standard when it comes to Epstein. They suggest there is a conspiracy by Democrats to take down President Trump using these same so-called files.
The House of Representatives voted to force the Justice Department to release the Epstein files with an overwhelming majority on Tuesday. The matter still needs to make it through the Senate before the president can sign it. Trump promised to sign the bill if it’s passed.
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