Rep. Jamie Raskin faced fierce criticism after defending U.S. Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey Plaskett for texting Jeffrey Epstein during a 2019 congressional hearing, calling it nothing more than “taking a phone call from her constituent.”
Republicans moved to censure Plaskett for inappropriate coordination with the convicted sex offender, citing messages exchanged while Michael Cohen testified before Congress. Raskin dismissed the censure bid as political theatrics, arguing that communicating with a constituent — even one like Epstein — was not grounds for punishment and decried the move as a violation of due process.
His defence was swiftly condemned by the White House Rapid Response team, conservative commentators, and independent journalist Lee Fang, who said Raskin’s explanation ignored Plaskett’s deeper historical ties to Epstein.
Fang noted Plaskett previously worked with individuals connected to Epstein, benefited from campaign contributions linked to him, and had roles in Virgin Islands institutions that granted Epstein favourable tax treatment. Plaskett defended herself on the House floor, insisting Epstein’s legal troubles were not widely known at the time and rejecting claims she took advice from him. The censure resolution ultimately failed in the House vote.
“While Democrats loudly insist the Epstein scandal is tied to President Trump, the paper trail keeps leading straight back to their own donors, allies, and operatives.”
https://slaynews.com/news/emails-hakeem-jeffries-solicited-donations-epstein-asked-meet-obama/#:~:text=While%20Democrats%20loudly%20insist%20the%20Epstein%20scandal%20is%20tied%20to%20President%20Trump%2C%20the%20paper%20trail%20keeps%20leading%20straight%20back%20to%20their%20own%20donors%2C%20allies%2C%20and%20operatives.
They’re only “divided” because most of them were doing it too