During a pivotal 2019 Congressional hearing featuring Michael Cohen, former counsel to President Trump, a surprising connection emerged. Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett, a Democratic delegate representing the US Virgin Islands, was actively exchanging text messages with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The hearing centered on Cohen’s testimony regarding President Trump’s business dealings and alleged attempts to silence individuals before the 2016 election. Cohen himself had previously faced a 36-month prison sentence for offenses including lying to Congress and financial crimes.
Evidence revealed Epstein wasn’t simply observing the proceedings; he was actively monitoring them and offering guidance to Plaskett. Texts showed him directing her line of questioning, attempting to influence the focus of the inquiry.
“Cohen brought up RONA – keeper of the secrets,” Epstein texted Plaskett, referring to former Trump aide Rhona Graff. Plaskett’s immediate response, “RONA?? Quick I’m up next is that an acronym,” demonstrated her reliance on his input.
Epstein continued, suggesting Cohen was opening avenues to identify other individuals within the Trump Organization. He wrote, “Hes opened the door to questions re who are the other henchmen at trump org.” Plaskett then directly followed his suggestion, questioning Cohen about additional individuals the committee should investigate.
She pressed Cohen, “Are there other people that we should be meeting with?” and urged him to provide names quickly, specifically asking about Rhona Graff. This mirrored Epstein’s earlier direction, raising questions about the source of her investigative priorities.
Plaskett’s office later acknowledged the exchange, stating she received texts from various sources during the hearing, including advice, support, and even criticism. They characterized her as a former prosecutor who welcomes information aiding her pursuit of the truth.
The text messages were initially redacted, obscuring the identity of the sender on February 27, 2019 – the very day Cohen testified before the House Oversight Committee. However, analysis by The Washington Post, comparing the texts to hearing footage, confirmed Plaskett was the recipient of Epstein’s guidance.
This revelation casts a new light on the hearing and raises concerns about potential external influence on a critical Congressional investigation. The nature of the exchange suggests a deliberate effort to steer the questioning based on input from a convicted sex offender.
