‘Quick I’m Up Next’: Dem Del. Plaskett Caught Texting Epstein To Help Steer Questioning During Congressional Hearing

Newly released records from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate expose exchanged text messages with Democratic Virgin Islands Del. Stacey Plaskett during a high-profile 2019 testimony — and that Epstein’s real-time comments may have shaped some of her questioning.

The messages, part of a November release of a large batch of emails and documents by the House Oversight Committee, show Epstein closely following former Trump attorney Michael Cohen’s February 2019 appearance before the congressional body. Although the lawmaker’s name is blacked out in the documents, timestamps, context, and alignment with live footage reviewed by The Washington Post indicate the recipient was Plaskett, a member of the panel questioning Cohen that day.

Newly released documents from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate show that he appeared to be texting a member of Congress during a congressional hearing investigating Donald Trump, and that those texts may have influenced the lawmaker’s questions. https://t.co/4yMKWBEi4X pic.twitter.com/o6LvpsUhDy

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 15, 2025

In another exchange, after Cohen mentioned longtime Trump aide Rhona Graff, Epstein alerted her, highlighting “Cohen brought up RONA – keeper of the secrets.”

Plaskett responded, “RONA?? Quick I’m up next is that an acronym. [sic]”

Epstein clarified, “Thats [sic] his assistant.” (RELATED: Petition To Release Epstein Files Crosses Key Congressional Threshold)

Acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Audrey Strauss, announces charges against Ghislaine Maxwell during a July 2, 2020, press conference in New York City. – Maxwell, the former girlfriend of late financier Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested in the United States on July 2, 2020, by FBI officers investigating his sex crimes, multiple US media outlets reported. (Photo by JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images)

Plaskett then pressed Cohen about Trump Organization personnel. “Are there other people that we should be meeting with?” Plaskett asked. She then pushed him to “quickly give us as many names as you can,” and brought up Graff by name. The exchange closely corresponded with Epstein’s earlier prompt that Cohen had “opened the door to questions” about Trump’s associates.

Epstein earlier complimented Plaskett’s outfit and asked whether she was chewing during a televised shot. She replied she was “[c]hewing interior of my mouth. Bad habit from middle school.” Epstein also inquired how long she would remain at the hearing.

After Friday evening’s publication of the first reports, Plaskett’s office issued a statement saying she had received texts from “staff, constituents and the public at large,” including Epstein, during the hearing, according to The Washington Post. The statement also emphasized Plaskett’s past work on sexual assault and trafficking cases, noting, “As a former prosecutor she welcomes information that helps her get at the truth.” (RELATED: Democrat Delegate’s Mic Gets Cut After Going On Tirade Over US Territories Not Being Allowed To Vote For Speaker)

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 14: U.S. Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) listens during a markup hearing at Longworth House Office Building September 14, 2021 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. House Ways And Means Committee continued its markup on a third day for the Democrats’ $3.5 trillion spending package. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Epstein, who owned two private islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands and maintained extensive ties there, donated to a variety of politicians, including Plaskett, according to a Business Insider investigation. After Epstein’s 2019 arrest on federal sex-trafficking charges, her office initially signaled she did not plan to return the contributions before later reversing course under public pressure, according to The Washington Post.

Plaskett was also among the officials named in a 2023 lawsuit filed by six Epstein accusers alleging Virgin Islands authorities benefited from or enabled his trafficking network, the outlet reported. The case against her was dismissed with prejudice earlier this year.

Plaskett’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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