Democratic Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett, the non-voting delegate from the U.S. Virgin Islands, exchanged text messages with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while questioning former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen during a February 2019 hearing, newly released documents reveal.
The Washington Post identified Plaskett as the sender after her name had initially been redacted.
Her office confirmed the report, noting that she often received advice and commentary from staff, constituents, and the public, including Epstein.
The hearing in question involved Cohen testifying before the House Oversight Committee.
Cohen claimed that President Donald Trump engaged in racist behavior, manipulated financial records, and orchestrated hush money payments to cover up extramarital affairs, all of which Trump has denied.
Plaskett reportedly reached out to Epstein before questioning Cohen, asking, “He’ll talk about his grades,” to which Epstein responded, “What privilege stands behind the none release of college transcripts?”
Epstein also complimented her appearance during the live hearing, writing, “You look great.”
During one exchange, a broadcast moment showed Plaskett appearing to chew gum, according to the Daily Mail.
Epstein texted, “Are you chewing?” She responded, “Not any more. Chewing interior of my mouth. Bad habit from middle school.”
Plaskett also received guidance from Epstein regarding other Trump associates Cohen might discuss. At 2:25 p.m., three minutes before her scheduled questioning, she texted him: “RONA??, quick I’m up next, is that an acronym?”
Epstein replied, clarifying it referred to Trump’s former executive assistant, Rhona Graff. Plaskett then asked Cohen about other potential witnesses or associates he had mentioned, referencing Epstein’s description of “henchmen.”
Cohen identified Allen Weisselberg, the former Trump Organization CFO, and explained Graff’s role as Trump’s executive assistant, whose office was adjacent to his and who was involved in many organizational matters.
As the hearing drew to a close, Epstein texted Plaskett once more, saying, “Good work.” At the time, Epstein was a known convicted sex offender, having pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor.
He would later face federal sex trafficking charges in July 2019 and was found dead by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell the following August.
Plaskett’s office defended the Congresswoman’s actions, stating that during hearings, she frequently received messages containing advice, support, and occasionally partisan commentary.
“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,” her spokesperson said. The office emphasized Plaskett’s long-standing record of combating sexual assault and human trafficking, her condemnation of Epstein’s criminal behavior, and her support for his victims.
The newly disclosed messages show a previously unknown interaction between a sitting member of Congress and Epstein during a high-profile hearing into Trump’s alleged misconduct.
While the exchanges may raise eyebrows due to Epstein’s criminal record, Plaskett’s office maintains that the Congresswoman’s engagement with the messages was strictly for gathering relevant information to inform her questioning and oversight responsibilities.
